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Dr. Charan Ranganath on the Myths Surrounding Our Memory and the Power of Remembering Better, Not More

Feb 12, 2024

50:12

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Dr. Charan Ranganath, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, discusses his book on memory and debunks cultural myths. Topics include the malleability of memory, the role of sleep in memory retention, the impact of lifestyle factors on cognitive abilities, error-driven learning, and the power of memory in shaping emotions.

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Quick takeaways

Memory prioritizes important and useful information, focusing on quality over quantity.

Lifestyle factors like exercise, diet, and stress management significantly impact cognitive function and memory preservation.

Deep dives

Memory is More about Quality and Usefulness Than Quantity

Memory is not meant to be a comprehensive library of past experiences. Rather, it prioritizes important and useful information over recalling every detail. Our memories are never perfect, and it is important to manage our expectations accordingly. Memory is about quality over quantity, and the brain is designed to efficiently process information and make predictions based on limited data.

Introduction

2min

The Influence of Lifestyle Factors on Memory

23min

Ads for Pet Food Delivery, Job Search Platform, and Global Commerce Platform

4min

Approaches to Memory and Error-Driven Learning

14min

The Power of Memory in Shaping Emotions and Healing

5min

Information about the Book and Author's Website

2min

This week it’s my privilege to welcome Dr. Charan Ranganath to the show for a fascinating discussion about his new book, Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters. Charan is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California at Davis. For over 25 years, he has studied the mechanisms in the brain that allow us to remember past events, using brain imaging techniques, computational modeling and studies of patients with memory disorders.

In this episode we uncover the malleability of memory and discuss practical strategies for not just remembering more, but remembering better. Charan guides listeners through the science of memory preservation and the critical role of sleep in processing and retaining our experiences, and more importantly turning the memories of those experiences into Charan also discusses the brain's dopaminergic pathways and how intentional distractions can hamper our performance.

In addition, we touch upon how lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress can affect our cognitive abilities and explore the concept of error-driven learning—why struggling to recall might actually be good for us. So join us as Charan challenges cultural myths about brain usage and busts the notions of effective multitasking and magic techniques for developing a perfect memory.

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Related Episodes:

Jonathan Levi on Learning, Speed Reading and Memory Palaces

Gretchen Rubin on Discovering How To Live Life In Five Senses

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Connect with Dr. Charan:

Website

Instagram

Book

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