Questions tagged [memory]
For questions about the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information in the brain. This tag encompasses research all the way from the molecular level in model organisms to abstract mathematical representations, and includes applied learning paradigms and tasks.
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How does the brain’s visual memory work?
I have read a lot about people who are good memorizing images (visual type memory), music, words, numbers, etc. but I have never read a lot about how all these things are "saved" in our brain.
I am ...
aster94
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Is there an audio equivalent of eidetic memory?
In this YouTube video by The Blaze it is claimed that Ted Cruz has "audiographic" memory. He does seem to have quite a good memory based on videos I've seen of him, but I'm not sure if Glenn Beck is ...
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What happens in the brain that allows access to a previous unavailable memory?
What happens in the brain that allows you access to a memory previous unavailable?
For example I forgot the name of someone I've known for years. Two weeks later, without notice, "Diana" popped up.
...
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Definition of cognitive load
Wikipedia's page on cognitive load starts with
In cognitive psychology, cognitive load refers to the effort being used in the working memory. Cognitive load theory differentiates cognitive load ...
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What is the learning/memory type which requires active contribution called?
I observed I best memorize information when I actively compile it into meaningful hierarchy. That encompasses creating PowerPoint presentations, explaining the topic to someone or writing summaries. I ...
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Is there any reason why chunking the digit span test would not help?
Is there any reason why chunking the digit span test would not help, and what is the average score without chunking? By chunking I mean any rehearsal besides saying the numbers one time as they appear....
user7852
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Are facial muscles activated in verbal thought? [duplicate]
In this video, Dr Russel Barkley states the following:
I can put electrodes all over your face and I can ask you to cite your
Canadian pledge of allegiance in your mind. You still move your face.
...
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Are There Any Customizable Working Memory Tests?
I've found many working memory tests online, but they all use either the digits 0-9, or the alphabet. Is there a working memory test that lets one choose the characters?
Ex.:
If I input the ...
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How is memory structured (from a modeling perspective)?
My understanding is that memory is neither purely associationist (fully connected graph with weights) nor purely hierarchical (tree). What structure does biological evidence point towards? I'm ...
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What would happen to the human brain after running out of memory?
According to this answer humans have enough memory to store 300 years of TV shows. However, of course, it is disputable, as storage system would be completely different from storing TV shows (videos) ...
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Is short term memory ability inherited?
Have any studies been done on the inheritability of different mental abilities such as short-term-memory, long term memory and so on.
Many studies, if at all, seem to rely on an over-all IQ. This ...
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I can sometimes 'erase' an active thought - how does that work? [closed]
When I'm trying to sleep but still awake, I sometimes get dream-like thoughts. I still twist and turn in bed, consciously moving (thus not sleeping) and hearing sounds in the room, but these thoughts ...
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What are science-based methods to memorize large sets of best practices?
I am a writer. In every book about writing fiction there are some recommendations, which I need to remember during the process of writing. Examples of best practices may include:
In every scene, it ...
user19477
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How the Brain Does Garbage Collection in Real Time [duplicate]
When we read a sentence we don't "pay attention to" each letter and the structure of each letter and the placement of the letter and color and lighting and all that. We just "end up with" the meaning ...
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Fitting equal-variance signal detection model to ROC data
I posted this question in the programming forums but think I might get some answers if I post here as well... hope that's ok.
I'm trying to follow the steps in this paper to reproduce the excel table ...
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How did Hermann Ebbinghaus conduct memory experiments on himself?
I was reading about Hermann Ebbinghaus. He became interested in experimental psychology which led him to conduct memory experiments on himself which then resulted in the publication of his book: "...
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What is a Good Working Memory Test Online (or overall if none)?
By good, I mean three things:
Accepted by professional doctors/psychologists/psychiatrists.
Has supporting research.
Has an established norm and can tell you where you are relative to the ...
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Opposite of White Bear principle?
Is there any phrase/term to describe the opposite of White Bear principle (also known as ironic process principle)?
I'm looking for a word to describe the process where something eludes you the more ...
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Why is the hopfield network a model of associative memory?
I'm struggling to understand the meaning of the term associative memory in the context of Hopfield networks. I'm not sure if associative learning is the same thing or a different thing. In associative ...
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What is the term for the "knowing what you think but can't explain it" phenomenon?
I think we all experience this phenomenon once in a while, and I am experiencing it right now. It's the feeling that whatever word one tries to say it seems to be wrong (for them) or confusing (for ...
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Long-Term (Not WM) Memory Norms
Is there research on how long it takes an "average" person to memorize a piece of information?
Say a word or a license plate. Something along the lines of: "Given a license plate, and 100 repetitions ...
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Why do I perform better at rhythm games after a long period of not playing?
Every once in a while I decide to play Phase Shift (very similar to Guitar Hero). I might go weeks or months between plays, but when I return, I often break a high score within the first few songs I ...
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How many items in a list can a human create without repetition?
Consider the question "Name as many animals as you can."
An average person could no doubt list off about 20-30 animals without repetition.
This is odd seeing as we have a 7-9 item maximum short term ...
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Is it possible to recall old memories without altering them?
I want spend some time reminiscing about the past and I want to go deep. Upon Googling techniques on how to help memory recall I ran into an old fact I had forgotten about (ironically). The fact is ...
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Do memories cease to exist? [duplicate]
Do memories ever cease to exist?
For example, did the memories I had 20 years go (which I can't remember) disappear? If a machine that could access and show memories existed, could it bring back ...
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Study claims that human brain does not produce new brain cells?
Neurogenesis is one of the most fascinating subjects to discuss. However, it seems like scientific community has difference of opinion about whether neurogenesis is possible or not in adult humans. ...
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Does associative recognition retrieve target when given re-paired foil?
Context
In "Tracking cognitive processing stages with MEG: A spatio-temporal model
of associative recognition in the brain" by Borst et. al., MEG is used to show the existence of discrete stages ...
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why can't we override memory priority? [duplicate]
Is it known why certain information cant be retained by some people even when it's important to do so? I've read that our ability to remember things is based on every memory accessed before, ...
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Memorising phone numbers with symmetrical digit arrangement (e.g. 321 123)
I have noticed, by chance, but I would very easily remember a phone number, if it has some digits symmetry, e.g. "540 045" (and mind you, I have very hard time memorizing numbers in general). At the ...
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What does "unconscious memory" mean?
Is there a single notion in the cognitive sciences for "unconscious memory"? For example a in a 2015 Northwestern University press release, we find that
Scientists retrieve unconscious memories
...
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How can we determine if a traumatic event in our youngest days can influence our present behaviour?
Suppose that a little kid found him/herself in a traumatic situation at an age of which he or she has no conscious memories (let's say between 1 and 3 years old). For example, the kid was put in a ...
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Eyewitness testimony study from Power of Habit
In his book The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg refers to some study from the University of Western Ontario:
STEP THREE: ISOLATE THE CUE
About a decade ago, a psychologist at the University of Western ...
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How to detect which memory is being used when answering a yes or no question?
I am asking participants some questions on a form. I have to know which kind of memory they are using when answering these questions. I am having difficulty deciding this. Is there any special ...
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Why does tactile stimulation such as massage sometimes trigger repressed memories or emotions?
I have anecdotal evidence from multiple massage therapists claiming that they have triggered some form of mental / emotional response in a patient, due to physical stimulation (one case citing a ...
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If traumatic experiences that trigger PTSD can be blocked by a memory blocker
Basically, we're making a short film on mental disorders (we changed our topic since the last question I asked) and one major detail in our film is that the main character has PTSD and Schizophrenia ...
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Is memory stored at different scales?
Initial caveat: I have very little formal education in psychology or other cognitive sciences - just a couple classes in college. I read the guidelines in the site FAQ, but I'll understand if this ...
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Matching patterns in auditory signals
How do people match audio signals from memory? For example, consider the simplest case where there is a single channel sound being applied to one headphone. If the subject was previously presented a ...
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Finding the repeating part of a signal
How do people "synchronize" to a periodic signal? In other words, given an oscillating auditory signal, how do people decide where the beat is? Assuming a "beat" divides a signal into equal repeating ...
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Matching continous patterns in visual signals
Similar to my question about auditory signals, how do people match visual signals from memory? For example, consider the simplest case where there is a single degree of movement freedom, such as a ...
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Can drugs cause positive reinforcement for undesirable tasks?
For this example, I will use alcohol as an example drug, since it's legal and increases dopamine.
Can drinking alcohol when performing unpleasant tasks, such as homework, cleaning, or laundry confuse ...
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How good (or bad) is everyday event memory? [closed]
Can anyone recommend studies about how good (or bad) everyday memory is for events? How much of what happens today will I be able to remember next week? In a month or a year?
This was deliberately ...
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Ligand-gated ion channels as operators
Isn't there a perfect analogy between ligand-gated and voltage-gated ion channels considered (mathematically) as (non-linear) operators, mapping one function (of time) to another one? Voltage-gated ...
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Classic 1960s experiment on "post hoc" / "obvious after the fact" bias
There was a study in the 1960s that presented alternately two plausible hypotheses, I think about the influence of socioeconomic class on something. The subjects were shown fake experimental evidence ...
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What cognitive bias (loosely) makes us all the more susceptible to the golden age fallacy [closed]
Why do the good ol' days seem better than they actually are? Is this a result of an error in human thought or is it because things are actually worsening?
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What is the fastest sorting algorithm for humans? [closed]
Empirically, I feel like sorting things in real life is not the same as sorting things for a computer. Algorithms like and merge sort and quicksort are the fastest things to sort for computers in the ...
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Does verified evidence for Freudian repression of traumatic memories exist?
This is sort of related to this other question, except that here I am not asking whether the brain is viewed as being capable of repressing memories, but about any verified cases of where that has ...
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Why could too much BDNF be detrimental in terms of depression and memory?
I am interested in looking at the effects of too much BDNF and other proteins such as repressor element one silencing transcription factor (REST). Most research suggest that elevated levels are ...
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Does taking antidepressants, anxiolytics and sleep pills significantly affect a person's intelligence?
Do antidepressants, anxiolytics and sleeping pills significantly affect the intelligence of a person, for example as expressed by the general (g) factor? Do these compounds affect the g factor each ...
user14575
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Polylinguistic Competition [closed]
I'm unsure if there's another exchange that would be more appropriate for this, but I'm curious about my own experiences and wanted to see what this community had to say.
Context being that I really ...
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Does language learning improve or worsen the ability to remember and process information?
In an interview with a Czech neurologist Syka, I've heard that much of the mental health (such as the ability to reason, communicate and process information) in older age mainly depends on the amount ...
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