What Makes Something Memorable (or Forgettable?) with Wilma Bainbridge
Jun 13, 2024
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University of Chicago psychologist Wilma Bainbridge discusses what makes things memorable, including the Mandela Effect. Her team created an AI tool, ResMem, to predict memorability in faces and artwork. They explore the impact of memorability on time perception and memories, with potential applications in education and healthcare.
The Mandela Effect challenges commonly held memories by revealing shared false memories, sparking psychological studies on memory inaccuracies.
Memorability of images and faces is influenced by distinct features like emotions and threat perception, which AI tools can accurately predict, revolutionizing various fields.
Deep dives
The Mandela Effect and False Memories
Many individuals experience the Mandela Effect, a phenomenon where people collectively misremember specific details or events. For instance, thoughts on the Monopoly man wearing a monocle are widespread, although he does not. This effect challenges commonly held memories, leading researchers to analyze the reasons behind shared false memories through psychological studies, including memory experiments showing that individuals consistently exhibit the Mandela Effect, irrespective of image exposure or external influence.
The Science of Memorability
Memory expert Wilma Bainbridge delves into the science of what makes certain images, faces, or artworks memorable. Through studies on faces and diverse image sets, it was found that memorability is influenced by distinct features like emotions or threat perception. Bainbridge's research extends to AI tools predicting image memorability accurately, shedding light on how our brains perceive and retain information, highlighting the significance of understanding memorability for varied applications.
Applications of Memorability Research
Exploring potential real-world implications, memorability research could revolutionize education, art, and even clinical settings. AI tools predicting memorability have shown promise in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease early based on memorable image recall. Additionally, implications in criminal justice highlight the importance of considering memorability in lineups. The diverse applications of memorability research present a new frontier in understanding memory, perception, and their societal impacts.
There is a science to what we remember and what we don't. For instance, why do we remember certain pieces of artwork, some brands’ logos, or even people's faces? University of Chicago psychologist Wilma Bainbridge has been studying what makes things memorable for over a decade. Through her research, she has found that there is a common thread about what most people remember—and even what we remember incorrectly (a phenomenon called the Mandela effect)—but most recently, why some visuals are intrinsically more memorable.
Bainbridge directs the Brain Bridge Lab, where her team has created a machine learning model called ResMem, which can predict the memorability of faces, artwork and more. They have tested their AI tool in real-life settings, like the Art Institute of Chicago, with hopes that similar memorability tools could be used in educational settings, criminal justice, science and medicine.
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