Dr. Charan Ranganath, a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at UC Davis, dives into the complex world of memory. He explains how emotions can significantly shape our memory and decision-making. Listeners learn strategies to enhance retention, including the '4 C's of memorable messaging.' Ranganath also discusses the brain's mechanics of forming and recalling memories, likening them to building with Lego blocks, and highlights how effective presentations can engage and educate audiences.
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insights INSIGHT
Lego-like Memory
Memories are built from reusable elements, like Legos.
Our brains recombine these elements for different memories, making them efficient but prone to distortion.
insights INSIGHT
Memory Drift
Memories are not perfect recordings but reconstructions based on general knowledge and specific details.
Over time, memories drift towards pre-existing knowledge, losing unique details.
insights INSIGHT
Memory's Focus
Memory focuses more on present and future needs.
It's designed to pack only essential information, much like packing for a trip.
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Dr. Charan Ranganath discusses the science behind our brain’s capacity to remember (and forget) and how it can help you make better decisions and impressions.
Charan Ranganath 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, Dr. Ranganath 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. He has been recognized with a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship. He lives in Davis, California.