

The magic of memory - live at Podfest
20 snips Mar 22, 2025
Join Tansil Ali, a four-time Australian memory champion, and Hayley Caldwell, a memory and sleep researcher, as they explore the fascinating world of memory. Discover how sensory experiences, especially smell, play a crucial role in memory formation. Tansil shares innovative techniques like visualization and storytelling to improve recall, while Hayley discusses the importance of sleep in memory consolidation. The lively discussion also touches on the concept of déjà vu and how environmental cues can trigger powerful memories.
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Sana's Earliest Memory
- Sana Qadar recalls her earliest memory, burning her hand on a stovetop at age two or three.
- This painful experience demonstrates how some memories, especially those associated with strong emotions, stick with us.
How Memories Form
- Memories are formed through sensory experiences, creating neural pathways in the brain.
- Memories are stored throughout the brain, not in one specific location or "memory lobe."
Sense and Memory
- Senses can trigger memories due to their close connection to the hippocampus, the brain's memory center.
- Smell is a particularly strong trigger, possibly because the olfactory processing center is near the hippocampus.