[Calanctus]

A little good news about getting older:
Quote:

Young people are better at recalling details, according to the study. But seniors are just as good, and maybe even better, at putting their memories in the right context and adding perspective as they flesh out the details and create a broader picture.

Read more about this study on memory .

 

[mkyy]

As I'm studying for my exams right now, memorization is still ok (or so I think!), just that I had a hard time concentrating on the same topic for a long time like I used to do when I was doing my first degree.

 

[CaptBubba]

Memory, like anything else in your body, needs to be kept in shape. If you keep your memory active by learning new things (reading, research, ect) then you won't have drastic degregation. That is, according to my psychology professor. I don't claim to be an expert in this.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

To learn is to live, and to live is to learn. All should strive to learn and better themselves as the age by learning. I find that all those "stupid" facts I learned from other people can actually come in handy at times. I hope I always have the desire to learn something and add to my knowledge and wisdom. It is a gift that many sadly waste. And for others it's too late. My grandmother has alzheimers, and can't remember almost anything. She speaks in Russian, even though she has lived in the US since 1929 or so.

 

[ai0tron]

Memory. BAH. My long term memory is vastly superior to my short term. Strangely enough IMO, my long term actually recovers memories 'lost' by my short term. Whenever that happens I really begin to wonder what this whole memory thing is about. Apparently my mind is storing information but not recovering it as easily in the short term. Also, I find that the short term memory is far harder to manipulate consciously. Not surprisingly then it seems harder to recall short term memories the more I try. Also, short term memory is very much inhibited by stress, or pressure to remember. Where as with the long term I can rack my brain and slowly extract more details. That difference between the two types of memory seems particularly unusual.

 

[gerG]

Stress does have a huge impact on memory. While I was a manager I discovered an inverse correlation between memory and blood pressure. I didn't like the trend of either. Now I am a contributing engineer again (feels great) and it is amazing to be able to remember complex graphics or large numbers just from a glance.

Long term and short term are indeed different, but I seem to have 2 different short term memory "bins". When analyzing data I sometimes have to move numbers from one place to another (e.g. typing in hand written data). I can read a number aloud, then look at another one. I remember both separately, and from obviously different parts of the grey matter. Odd sensation, but it seems to work. Try it with phone numbers and see if it works.


gerG

 

[kpfeifle]

Ummm...What were we talking about?

 

[Calanctus]

Quote:

Originally posted by CaptBubba Memory, like anything else in your body, needs to be kept in shape. If you keep your memory active by learning new things (reading, research, ect) then you won't have drastic degregation. That is, according to my psychology professor. I don't claim to be an expert in this.

CB, I've heard the same, not only about memory but also about prevention of senility in general. If you consciously practice mentally challenging things that you enjoy, learn new skills and give your brain a workout, you can keep your clarity of thought longer.

 

[squirt]

Interesting...the brain is an incredible computer no doubt...my grand mother who has severe Alzheimer’s desease still remembers some events that occurred in her childhood but can't remember things that have passed seconds prior...obviously the brain has different "types" of memory storage...the same is true for me...i can remember some events going back to age three but have an increasing difficulty remembering where i put the remote and my keys and such...what was this post about anyway

 

[chadbang]

"Young people are better at recalling details, according to the study. But seniors are just as good, and maybe even better, at putting their memories in the right context and adding perspective as they flesh out the details and create a broader picture."

So basically a younger person could tell you the names of the people at a party, what dress a girl was wearing and what time the cops arrived.

An older person will tell you about these kids they once knew and what a funny thing they once did together at a party; how today's fashions are just a rip off of the sixites; and then lecture you for fifteen minutes about staying out of the grip of the cops.

Yes, I have a lot of older friends who are very good at "adding perspective" and an ability to "flesh out details" .... although they might not necessary be the truth...

I haven't been able to find my car keys since I learned to drive and I still can't remember where the f$%^ I put them every morning.

 

[joelongwood]

Damn......I know I have a pair of HP-1s around here somewhere.