Neuroscientist Reveals The Truth About Memory & How We Can Remember Better | Charan Ranganath

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We often think about our memories as a record of the past - but what if they’re only a selective and evolving version of it? Today’s guest is a world-leading memory expert who has a surprising message: we’re not supposed to remember everything. In fact, our brains are designed to forget. And much of what you experience today will be lost by tomorrow.
Dr Charan Ranganath is Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and Director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California at Davis. For more than 25 years, he has studied the mechanisms in the brain that allow us to remember past events, using brain imaging techniques, computational modelling and research on patients with memory disorders. The occasion for his appearance on my podcast is the publication of his wonderful new book, Why We Remember: The Science of Memory and How it Shapes Us, which challenges, educates and enlightens, on so much of what we thought to be true about memories.
In this fascinating conversation, he explains that the seemingly selective and unreliable nature of human memory doesn't reveal laziness, distraction or early dementia. Instead, it shows that our brains have not evolved to keep a comprehensive record of events. Rather than live in the past, the brain’s job is to extract the information it needs, to guide our futures.
We also discuss how memories create our sense of self. We learn that our memory is an unreliable narrator but that we can use this to our advantage. By changing our perspective on traumatic experiences, we can feel differently about them in the present - a theory on which many forms of therapy are based.
We also discuss our brain’s ability to change - its plasticity - and how we’re most likely to remember life’s emotional experiences as well as its new and surprising ones. Charan explains why music and smells are evocative cues, why it’s never too late to learn new skills, and why forgetting is a sign of an efficient brain - in fact, one of Charan’s key insights is that we shouldn’t strive to remember more, but to remember better.
This is a fascinating conversation, full of fresh ideas, wisdom and practical advice about a topic that deeply matters to all of us.
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Connect with Dr Ranganath:
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Dr Ranganath’s book:
Why We Remember: The Science of Memory and How it Shapes Us - US: amzn.to/4d235t1 UK: amzn.to/4cUT6FT
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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

[@monicalimbo5717]

This is excellent. Thank you!

[@betel1345]

Enjoying this conversation, thank you. Woukd be really helpful to have timestamps and chaapters!

[@caregivergirlk]

That is THE topic….can we remember about what and when these two were talking in this long conversation! 😂❤

[@EquestrianLiving_CadyGarrison]

If you expand the description, the chapters are down there :) I found them via smartphone, not on a computer - hope that helps!

[@betel1345]

@@EquestrianLiving_CadyGarrison thank you!

[@annamariabodzas3744]

This will be another fascinating episode! ❤️🙏 Thank you!

[@DrChatterjeeRangan]

Hope you enjoy listening.

[@robinkarmakar3197]

@DrChaterjeeRangan have you thought about doing a podcast with cancer expert Siddhartha Mukherjee in future sometime?

[@robinkarmakar3197]

@@DrChatterjeeRanganhave you thought about doing podcast with Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee a world renkoon cancer expert. In his book the gene he targets a particular gene called source as the manifesto of cancer but it was my belief it is free body radicals..

[@zeenalady9420]

I was 5 years old when my sister in law asked me to go to her room and grab a diaper to change her baby. Halfway down the hallway, i couldn't remember what i was supposed to do. Went back and asked her what she needed me to do. I totally understand how forgetting something doesn't necessarily link up to aging or dementia. I'm hoping so, at least 🙏. Lol.

[@majkelpl8611]

@DrChatterjeeRangan I love your channel. Please can you make a video on OCD? It's killing me. I can't stop my brain from thinking and it makes me extremely tired.

[@serene4391]

Hi. Thanks for the Dr.Ranjan Chatterjee"s team for all good info about health.I subscribe the Friday email also. May I ask is it possible to provide Chinese subtitles as well? I try other languages are ok except Chinese subtitles. Is it a bit complicated for me to know the medical words but in other ways my vocabularies is improving. Hope the team is reading this comment. Thanks again for the efforts in health care.🙏

[@Individualist73]

concepts are consolidated memories. the mind drops the differing measurements among entities in order to economize space but retains the attribute particular to all entities of a given kind. a chair's essential attribute is its shape. the materials and dimensions are omitted. in this context "omitted" doesn't mean non-existent only not specified.

[@fulmarmusic1413]

I've been living on my own for years, taking psychedelics and living the hermetic lifestyle. I've learned a thing or two, like The Buddha did something similar; initially practicing Vajrayana meditation, but then deciding to consume. Krishna did the opposite; is prana how to breatharian? IDK. 2bn in the south, 2bn in the north. Africa and the west are the same; I mean look at a map of religion. I can't find anything in studies online about it. There's a deep divine fractal-mandala right under our feet. I'm pretty psychic ability is allowed within quantum mechanics, and so I connected with, or rather was connected by a tribe that way; quantum mechanics- retro-causality are my logical cornerstones. I hope one day medicine and science will study this more; how will people communicate across the cosmos. It has to be magical sparkle pony dreams all the way up. There's too many gentlemen clubs where they all try to become Nietzsche; stare into the abyss and the paint then world thusly despite having to pick up their daughter from school who is obsessed with Dune. Africa the reptile. South Asia the sensory. The far east in emotional peace. The intuitive west. Ego is a massive problem; fear of being mocked by peers. Doctors and leaders; the shaman-chief paradigm; the spiritual-leader. In rod we trust. God is the shaman-chief and Tao is too, it's how we evolve, by not just INFP. We're fundamental. We go from insect to gods, universe to universe. 1 for tribe/Mercury. 2 for culture/Venus. 3 religion/The Moon. 4 for philosophy/Mars. 5 for free will/Jupiter. 6 for love/gravity. 7 for family/dark energy. 8 for universe/dark flow. 9 for multiverse/Kuiper Cliff; 10 for divine/planet IX. 16 gods every few thousand years, for example, the Wiccan gods, The Four Heavenly Kings of Buddhism, Kali/Shiva/Vishnu/Brahma and African's which had little written record. They were The Moon; 8,000 years ago. They founded Astrology and discovered magic from the ashes of the birth of the silk road, like we are founding Singularitology. Even Trump follows our guidelines; trade is cultural, but so is idolatry. Broken people think they're the four horsemen; can't beat 'em, join 'em. Everyone around me was going loopy, so I left town and went to live near Devon. My psychic house is made of 16 shaman-chiefs. African Summit. Intellectual: Introvert. Emotional: Extrovert. Sensory: Extrovert. Reptilian: Introvert. South Asian Assembly. Creator: Introvert. Preserver: Extrovert. Destroyer: Extrovert. Kali Ma: Introvert. Far eastern School. North: Introvert. East: Extrovert. West: Extrovert. South: Introvert. Western Coven. Teacher: introvert. Powerful One: extrovert. Great One: Extrovert. Horned God: Introvert. I'm the teacher archetype. Oh Chong-song is the far eastern School's He who looks East. A woman called Mohini, Goddess of Goa, is the south Asian Assembly's Destroyer. And a woman from Africa, the Sacred Cow, is the African Summit's Reptilian. Krishna and The Buddha were part of a similar system that developed philosophy 4k years ago. We do have a sense of cabin fever in the northern climates. We're not outside smiling and laughing with children. We all have an element of the Hermetic inside us. I'm hungry.

[@ip3931]

Quite frankly, Dr Ranjan Chatterjee, nothing good has ever happened in my life but I’m too scared to commit suicide therefore I’d be quite grateful to lose my memory.

[@ingathomas6653]

Maybe you give Alex Korb a chance. Has written "The Upwards Spiral" . Also here on yt. Everything can change, your life also. Wish you well.

[@user-xi4jw4mh7p]

Sending you love bro.. you are worthy to live a good life. Sometimes life just need a small adjustment. You got this! Prayers🙏❤️

[@kripaharris237]

Sorry to hear it

[@Buy_YT_Views_28]

We need an updated Q & A video!!!

[@donnadiamusa7574]

Definitely need a Q&A video

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Experts such as Dustin Dwain King offer extensive knowledge and experience, aiding clients in crafting tailored financial strategies to achieve their objectives. Recognising the significance of expert guidance is essential, especially in management and risk mitigation..

[@sergiocuadra120]

Hi, Could you indicate what is the English level in each video please? I'm learning English, I need to know it

[@ingathomas6653]

I guess B2 (I am also a not native speaker) Yet you need a bit of particular vocabulary.

[@thomasraven]

The casual mention of animal abuse around the 28:00 mark seriously hindered my enjoyment of this episode and reminded me of the ways that many researchers use others as fodder for their research. We will never advance as a species until we all work to preserve life of all kinds and refuse to abuse others for our own gain.

[@ingathomas6653]

Thaaank you! It is always so hart to hear (and imagine likewise) these stupid "models". We are far enough to work only on human animals.

[@tropes_]

Don’t lose what?

[@mitziemcbean1483]

🙏

[@justin_d77]

More ads than video at this point… Rangan, Lower the amount of ads and I’ll watch your video. It is unwatchable

[@ailigimmo9668]

Adblock is your friend ....how come people can´t use a simple tool and complain ....

[@Individualist73]

60 minutes did a piece on a rare syndrome called hyperthymesia. these people remember every day of their lives from about the age of 13. This may be a form of synesthesia. i, too, experience a carousel of memories running in the background of my mind. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqG3dI1jnbRpn6ssi=bA8cPFibVTCG-XGw

[@sorchawallace-of7sf]

Nobody is going to devote the time to listen to this when it’s over two hours!

[@ingenuity296]

True 😂 Listen at 2x speed.

[@piccupaul]

Way I look at it, listen to this and you've got the book, more or less.

[@meowgaming8083]

The endorsement of the shoes is awful

[@pocopico7409]

Just what everybody wanted to do… get up and listen to a 2 hour, 11 minute video. We all have the time, right? Wrong! 🙄 These need to be shortened. Nobody is going to devote the time to listen to this when it’s over two hours!

[@DrChatterjeeRangan]

Hi there. This particular KZbin channel hosts my weekly long form podcast. We also have a Clip Channel which contains 10 - 15 minute highlights from each show. Perhaps that channel might be more to your taste. If that interests you, the link for that Clips channel is here: kzbin.info/door/Dnwlb3IQDPJtFysPUJbDFQ

[@pocopico7409]

@@DrChatterjeeRangan: If you don’t think you’re wasting your time and you think your long videos are being watched by a respectable number of people, that’s fine. Just citing that probably only around 5 out of 100 people are going to devote 2 hours to watch something on KZbin…long channel or not. If you don’t care about that, good luck!

[@lumic9022]

I listen and I very much enjoy every minute of the conversations.

[@pocopico7409]

@@lumic9022: Yeah, sure. Thanks, Dr. Rangan. 😂

[@strengthangel]

​@@lumic9022I completely agree. This episode was terrific. In a world where most of us are willing to watch/binge dozens of hours of our favourite show, I have no problem listening to two hours of sensible enlightening conversation. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@Benkaos209]

This is my contribution to the world of emotional health. I wrote this song for all those that suffer from C.P.T.S.D. This song is about my triumph over the tragedy of this affliction that plagues our society. I hope this gets out to those that need it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6baI16oLGmkM0si=dXfxlsklVUEZ8Z39