How Your Memory Works -- and Why Forgetting Is Totally OK | Lisa Genova | TED

Have you ever misplaced something you were just holding? Completely blanked on a famous actor's name? Walked into a room and immediately forgot why? Neuroscientist Lisa Genova digs into two types of memory failures we regularly experience -- and reassures us that forgetting is totally normal. Stay tuned for a conversation with TED science curator David Biello, where Genova describes the difference between common moments of forgetting and possible signs of Alzheimer's, debunks a widespread myth about brain capacity and shares what you can do to keep your brain healthy and your memory sharp. (This virtual conversation was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. Visit TED.com/membership to become a TED Member.)
Our brains are truly breathtaking -- and perhaps their most astonishing ability is the capacity to create, store and retrieve a lifetime of memories. Learn how memory works, why we forget and how to keep your brain in great shape with Lisa Genova, bestselling author and neuroscientist. Enroll in her TED Course “How to boost your brain + memory” today: tedtalks.social/brain
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[@TED]

Our brains are truly breathtaking -- and perhaps their most astonishing ability is the capacity to create, store and retrieve a lifetime of memories. Learn how memory works, why we forget and how to keep your brain in great shape with Lisa Genova, bestselling author and neuroscientist. Enroll in her TED Course “How to boost your brain + memory” today: tedtalks.social/brain

[@themanwnoname3454]

2022(G) “Respect and dignity.” Furthermore:

[@selinalong2655]

P]pp¹

[@patrickkirby7612]

☆ When she mention "wheres my phone" ..I'm like "Omg I can't find my phone. I was looking for it for a good 10 minutes when I realized... I'm holding it watching this video. I know..

[@kristahutchinson907]

This is the only reason I bought the Apple Watch... so I don’t spend 20 minutes looking for my phone several times a day. 🤣🤣

[@kristahutchinson907]

Also I’ve done that too... holding my phone and looking for my phone at the same time.

[@ayeone3870]

@@kristahutchinson907 except you don't do it because you haven't slept in a week lol (like commenter to which you are replying)

[@imatrixx572]

LMAO

[@SMJSelena]

Hahaha happens to me too sometimes 😅

[@Noahtennistips]

"Forgetting is ok" tell that to my parents after I forgot my MacBook at the train station.

[@Xscape128]

You know what's crazy, I'll have moments where dreams I've had years ago just randomly pop into my head throughout the day. This happens many times, and the scenarios in those dreams still fresh, it's insane

[@michellegaza7740]

I remember the dreams that I distinctly remember telling someone about. I wonder if I'm remember the dream anymore or just the experience of thinking about it while retelling it.... for the most part. There's always exceptions.

[@guydanielson8873]

Anything but “Insane!”

[@goga5104]

Same here.

[@NuNugirl]

It’s not crazy, because I remember in vivid detail the dreams I had of my dead loved ones. Both my Grandmothers, Dad, Mom and even my Ex Husband. In that order. I have a theory that they truly visited me in my dreams, because I was happy while dreaming. No, definitely not crazy.

[@bobjim4503]

There are many internet gurus who "train" your memory, but this video just debunks the frauds and would save so many people if they just saw this. Thank you TED

[@zeusyo1854]

Yessir

[@patrickkirby7612]

What about prevagen? Is that a fraud? Curious.

[@jeffxanders3990]

Yup. A guru will simply wait for you to inform of your expectations and lead to exactly that.

[@ayeone3870]

That's not AT ALL what happened...

[@bobjim4503]

@@ayeone3870 then what happened? please explain because I do not see what you see.

[@Nurmi860]

Well this makes me feel a lot better, but damn shame how we forget almost all of our lives

[@adarsh915]

That's not a shame, we can get an idea from this that life is about constantly moving, evolving and learning.

[@TECfan1]

Is it a shame? I mean most of our lives is sleeping, doing minor tasks or just staring at a phone lol. As long as we remember the important moments that's what matters.

[@TECfan1]

@Jordan Elian Why are you posting that like everywhere.

[@MrRinre]

@@TECfan1 bots promoting the site

[@richardberne4316]

Yes iijo

[@tomasciron7253]

This video made me remember that tommorow is friday and its the deadline of my homework,and I Havent answer anything

[@varungoyal2827]

After a loooonnng time, I found a TED video worth watching and really learnt a lot from the video.....thanks to the lady.......sorry I forgot her name

[@stoffo9265]

KZbin comment dad joke! 😂😂

[@varungoyal2827]

@@stoffo9265 I didn't get u

[@marieroux6852]

Memories are encoded most strongly when we're paying attention, when we're deeply engaged, and when information is meaningful to us (TED-Ed)

[@karenluz6482]

The key : learn new things!!!! Help to develop new neurons🥰🥰🥰🥰 "More we learn, more connections we do"

[@ainaibrahim8724]

How our memory works. I learned a lot from this video our memory works depends on how it actually supposed to do, it's when you actually remember that thing because it's unique or you and yourself want to remember that thing because it's amaze you or it's appropriate, the example of that is during exams you need to memorize the world in the book or you need to familiarize it since you need to answer and it's appropriate, another example is that when you saw a beautiful girl and it's amaze you so maybe you can't forget her face and you always remember that girl, another example your best friends surprised you on your birthday so that moments you always remember because it's amaze you. Our memory is perfect and design to be perfect, we can not remember the thing we didn't see or we didn't know of course we only remember the thing we pay attention and yes that is true we actually always did this as a human, example that we always did when someone catch our attention, they always on our mind, when you pay attention to thing you always catch your brain, you will always remember that thing, memory is amazing and it's essential for the functioning of almost everything we do, everything we do must give an attention everything like when you walking you must pay attention to this is worth applying in every each of us as a person. When you walk and you don't pay attention maybe it give to us in a danger when you don't pay attention maybe there is a car towards you, everything we do need to pay attention like also when you are studying even cooking and yes hope you agree. This is the note to those people that worth applying " Don't use your brain, use your check list." Using check list is sounds practice and it is not kind of cheating, that check list will always remind you what to do, and give you and Idea also it's very useful for short of time. So practice making check list as a student check list is very useful. THANK YOU❤️

[@VinegarPotato]

I really needed this video. I literally took a final, went to sleep, just woke up so scared that I slept in and missed the final.

[@The_Study_Bug]

I'd already realized that we only remember what we pay attention to and what we deem to be important for us to remember, but I didn't know how I could remember things which I want to recall so thank you Ted talk!

[@jordanpeters3746]

If you can't remember where you've put something think to yourself: "My hands know where I've put it." It also helps if you close your eyes as you do this. A few minutes later... after having given up looking for it ... there's a good chance you'll find it.

[@stevon7969]

Excellent talk I feel so much better about my 70 yr old brain 🤯

[@user-xf1tx1sy7e]

Personally, usually when its small things I need to find or do around my house I use a "mental" to do list. For example, if I were to look for my glasses, go grocery shopping and then study, instead of remembering sentences off by heart I'll think of it like this: Glasses, groceries, study. That's it! Its much easier for our brains to pay attention to 3 or four words instead of whole sentences. I hope that I have helped, and that everyone reading this is having a lovely day

[@nailachen7543]

.. I do it too especially while studying ,actually I just remember the first letter of each point and make a WORD with these letters , so if I had to remember the 3 ideas I just remember that WORD , ((for ex I have to buy pizza , apples , and noodles I remember the word PAN and when I go to the supermarket I just remember that word ..😏

[@LizzySkater13]

this is a really cool coincidence because i recently got her book called Remember and started reading it. this was great btw! thank you for sharing

[@mandeep3.14]

Interested to know how it goes once you’ve read it 👍🏼

[@epichardwareyoutube4630]

I~n~v~e~s~t~i~n~ B~T~C ~$ ~E~T~H W~H~A~T~S~A~P~P +~1~9~7~3~5~6~7~6~7~7~0~

[@changeorbeextinct]

Excellent. Thank you for a very clear, articulate, open, informative and honest talk.

[@kaseychampion6830]

This talk scares me but also gives me joy. I thought I was on an island because I literally walk from the bedroom to the kitchen to get water hit the kitchen in 5 seconds and can’t remember I was there for water. Will continue to use tools to improve my memory but this is timely, for me.

[@carmenruiz7205]

what a relief! great to know! great info! thank you, Ms Genova!

[@slax4884]

This was so educating, I really wanted to know more about this to help family as well

[@ritikbhat3894]

I actually forgot what this video had said so I came back...I remember it was good 🥺

[@Majid12022]

Thank you for this talk! That was very informative. I hear so many people spreading the “you only use 10% of your brain” information and honestly I have always doubt it. But anyway great talk, made me feel a lot better.

[@epichardwareyoutube4630]

I~n~v~e~s~t~i~n~ B~T~C ~$ ~E~T~H W~H~A~T~S~A~P~P +~1~9~7~3~5~6~7~6~7~7~0~

[@farhadrezaei1473]

Thank You so much for this talk/video. This talk answered lots of my questions

[@SpiritHawk7]

This is a wonderful talk. Thank you.

[@epichardwareyoutube4630]

I~n~v~e~s~t~i~n~ B~T~C ~$ ~E~T~H W~H~A~T~S~A~P~P +~1~9~7~3~5~6~7~6~7~7~0~

[@emilyh9363]

Such an informative and interesting video. Definitely going to check out her books

[@ShevonnePolastre]

The worst for me is when I remind myself to grab something or do something, and then a minute later, I completely forget to do it.

[@Xscape128]

The worst is when you're looking for something and it's in your hand lmaooo

[@ShevonnePolastre]

@@Xscape128 😂

[@thuhuongle4976]

Love this! Thanks so much!

[@denisesousa5153]

Very good! Wonderful video!

[@ryjiemariecose494]

your videos are worth watching love it 💕

[@evelyngolden2272]

Thanks for this video. I have experienced all of these moments.

[@lily_vivacity4376]

As everyone

[@kimjhpl1524]

Thank you for the great information,

[@MiataBRG]

Well that was the best Ted Talk I've heard.

[@mabroukimedsaad7442]

This content is very impressive, I would like to thank all of you. !

[@abdelmunemhegazi1909]

a very informing talk,,,i d rather assure that as long as you are aware of your forgetfulness then you are alright

[@127.]

*Takes Loan and forget it* Bank few months later: So you have chosen Death.

[@aleksandertorken8202]

With extra percentage.

[@df5826]

I read a book years ago that had a suggestion for using your memory like its a man at a counter who needs time to lookup the information you need. So if you ask yourself for something then try to move on to thinking about something else, it gives the little man a chance to retrieve the correct information. But if you keep thinking about it then you'll force yourself to find SOME answer but it'll be wrong. :)

[@marinilcefagundesdossantos3087]

Great talk

[@marianneamaya1444]

I love this information!

[@felipebravo7667]

Fantastic Ted Talk Congratulations to Her...Greetings♥️🇨🇱

[@stevenbrown6277]

If I forget a name of some musician or artist, person, etc I start with the alphabet. I run from A to Z and almost always I will 'hit' upon the correct letter or a significant part of the name. I have been doing this since I was a kid. It works for me.

[@kirstenbuchanan3921]

I do the alphabet trick all the time!!! Helps me feel like I have more control

[@keithbell9348]

I once heard that a deeper issue of memory loss that should be investigated is if for example, you are looking for your car keys, and they are in your hand. (That isn't a problem). But if you look at your car keys, which you use all the time, and you don't know what those things are, then that could be the sign of a developing cognitive issue that should be looked into.

[@VinegarPotato]

This makes me think that my lack of exercise and my sleep habits are affecting my memory.

[@nas19281]

Stress also affects it

[@fvisalmighty]

Awesome video!

[@caseylupkin4878]

This is why I take so many pictures ! I hate hate hate forgetting the days

[@captmants2093]

I am usually on top of everything and I'm hitting my 30s and so far I've lost my keys, I'd forget why I called someone things like that. Makes me super nervous but maybe it's because this is my last semester? I don't know but I've been getting so anxious over it 😫 this helps thank you!

[@NormyTres]

Yay! My book just arrived today!

[@noahtenshen]

And yet I am still left wondering why I didn't used to forget why I went into a room, or a word that I had a second ago. I wasn't more attentive. But I am sleep deprived--so bravo for that being a possible answer.

[@NormyTres]

Perhaps you did forget but weren't bothered, so you don't remember forgetting. Example: people think older people forget things and children don't, but kids are always saying 'where are my...', 'what did I do with my...'. They don't stress about it, they just let someone else answer for them! 😊

[@AmrddH]

I feel so validated

[@nuramalia6074]

Thanks for education

[@nadiagrace3596]

Thanks Lisa ❤

[@everydayslay290]

Forget the worthless stuff but you should never forget the lessons learned in Life as well as important factors within responsibilities

[@mickmccrory8534]

"If I learn something new, I have to forget something, to make room." Homer Simpson

[@Metasisic]

It was nice hearing this lady talk about memory and how it can be affected by age and other factors. I'm not big on health or medicine, I believe they are primarily designed and established in this country to get your money and time.

[@mandeep3.14]

I did wonder about the google bit, very interesting stuff

[@chu-haoyen1945]

Lake Havasu, AZ USA 6/28 to 7/02/2021. RIGHT now 6/27/2021 around 7:25AM PST

[@seacoast6351]

I have almost perfect visual memory for my entire life since I was around 2. I remember packaging on toys from the 80s and 90s to an extreme amount of detail also All the crappy illustrations in my text books. I have been able to read words from memories older then my ability to read. I can flip through a book or magazine and know if I have seen any image before and I can remember when. Not necessarily an exact day but in relative time to other memories. The card game: “memory” is super easy for me as long as I look at the card image and vacant card spot equally.

[@ambitionsskyyyy]

Alright show off

[@epichardwareyoutube4630]

I~n~v~e~s~t~i~n~ B~T~C ~$ ~E~T~H W~H~A~T~S~A~P~P +~1~9~7~3~5~6~7~6~7~7~0~

[@johnzimmerman1159]

Are you that insecure?

[@chekitatheanimatedskeptic6314]

I was always characterised as a person without any attention because I lost items left and right and with time I noticed that I couldn't really rely on attention solely for that, so now every important item I try to repeat using and putting them in the same places. Now I pratically laugh when I see other people losing items, because I only need to do that once, maybe every 2 or 3 years, because of repetition, which I think it has to do with long term memory.

[@phoenixi77]

I wish I could forget the embarrassing things I did all my life. Like I'll just randomly remember them. Why?!! I wish I randomly remembered the good things I did, things to be proud of.

[@laly0033]

You keep remembering the embarrassing things precisely BECAUSE you keep remembering them and reinforcing that memory. Sounds like an internal habit you've developed.

[@kermitefrog64]

Forgetting is God's way of helping us to get some exercise and keeping us humble. LOL. When it come to keys and have to keep another car key in my bag. This recently came in handy when I came out of Costco.

[@kermitefrog64]

And my horrible sentence structure is my brain running faster than my fingers.

[@jagjeetsinghchhabra3829]

Wow your speaking style amazing

[@heemagauss8691]

informative ★ Gotta write it then continue watching ,otherwise I'll forget

[@suganthanmuthukumararajah8211]

Thanks!

[@CharlosMinecraft]

My short-term memory is TERRIBLE. However my long-term is usually spot on. It's so crazy

[@BrittnyShrub]

Thank you! Such a relief and also, I now know what to be mindful of. Sleep and balanced diet are the key to so many health issues.

[@epichardwareyoutube4630]

I~n~v~e~s~t~i~n~ B~T~C ~$ ~E~T~H W~H~A~T~S~A~P~P +~1~9~7~3~5~6~7~6~7~7~0~

[@tangoz811]

I thought I was normal.. I just forget like every one else. I then found out that I really had a bad memorizing skills. I have tried to develop my skill and Read many books but I didnt make enough progress. I was told by my advisor that I have a short term memory and should pursue another career. I am still trying to find it out. I know there is away to make it better and I Will find it.

[@melanisa2344]

we are same condition, i instantly forgot what i have been doing at the same time . sometimes i got stress about that. if you got the tips incress the memory could you share with me

[@wayfa13]

Hmmm thanks for this; I'd come up with some of these as I noticed some patterns but haha mainly to make myself feel better. But good to know that I was kinda right lol, confirmation ftw.

[@ronlight7013]

Guilty as charged: "Yes" to all of the above. And thanks for asking.

[@anthropomorphizedrock]

Quick trick: if you're trying to remember something short term, think about *where* you need to remember the task, so you don't forget you're looking for your glasses in the kitchen

[@erichthecat6032]

Or add another two small things, three works a lot better in my case

[@aleksandertorken8202]

I just put stuff in their designated place. Hate it when they aren't there.

[@erichthecat6032]

@@aleksandertorken8202 things disappear and appear again later !!!

[@michellegaza7740]

Sometimes I just remember the number of things I needed to do or get and then if I forgot something I will know (example: I need 3 things at the store, I remembered 2 of them, and know I'm missing something) and I have to stand there and figure out what that thing that is missing is.

[@anthropomorphizedrock]

@@michellegaza7740 lol that reminds me of Neville “i can’t remember what I’ve forgotten”

[@adarsh915]

'I'm gonna get Alzheimer' followed by thoughts of mild amnesia and then Parkinson's Disease.... Totally relatable.

[@zainalishammat2866]

i stuck ones in the ugly sisters and that was a very hard to go out of it. I couldn’t get out of it for minutes and i had the urge to eventually get around of it

[@marcusevans617]

Thanks take care of your brain

[@heathermcdermott2171]

Been contemplating doing a Ted talk about synchronicity’s etc. sign post was you Lisa going over Sagamore bridge seeing as I live in Sandwich and I never watched Ted talks I just put the salon because I was thinking people keep telling me to do one and I saw the thing on procrastination when I was scrolling through made me laugh will meet someday I can tell

[@canucksway]

1. Get enough sleep -- 8 hours at least. 2. A healthy Diet / No SUGAR / No MSG. Mediterranean Diet Eat colorful foods. Take care oh your -- GUT Health 3. 30 mins 7 days a week -- (Think of it as "activity", not "exercise." ) 4. Avoid stress -- Take care of yourself. (Avoid drugs and alcohol as they can add to stress). 5. Learning and doing new things. 6. Listen music -- Music affects the brain in profound ways. It eases stress by lowering cortisol. It floods the brain with pleasurable neurotransmitters like dopamine. And it serves as a conduit through which we can process emotions that otherwise might not be describable in words.

[@jacysteven921]

Nice man

[@TheSamanthaDaisy]

If what Dementia/Alzheimer’s runs in your family? Or try hard to focus and retain information but can instantly forget what a person says to you?

[@3ll3ayy]

I have a to do list in my phone that never gets updated because I always forget what I wanted to write in it 😅

[@pbinsb3437]

It's normal to forget where your keys are. It's not normal if you forget what your keys are for.

[@erisedstraeh1]

Until recently, I was working at a grocery store, and to this day, I still don't know if our assistant manager (one of my direct supervisors) was named Melanie or Melissa.

[@juliusdaviesd]

A great example is the rubix cube. Super tough, something you can show off about.. But it literally helps you in NO other area of your life !

[@lisap1776]

LOL, she mentioned the laundry and I realized I forgot to put the clothing in the dryer....

[@user-oy3uq8it9u]

Actually,I forgot what I had forgotten

[@kristahutchinson907]

I’m curious how the neural pathways and connections that are made from weight lifting tie into this.

[@mcplatinum187]

Would love to take this onboard. Cant remember anything she said though

[@dreamingofnaomi]

My short term memory is shot. I can remember things that happened 20 years ago but can't remember why I came into this room. 😂😂😂

[@TECfan1]

You may be really distracted. Maybe others things are often on your mind.

[@danielhayhurst6539]

"ugly sister" maybe I wont perpetuate that, bet my daughter wouldn't like that

[@smoks4833]

Watching this video even if I maybe watched it already.

[@epichardwareyoutube4630]

I~n~v~e~s~t~i~n~ B~T~C ~$ ~E~T~H W~H~A~T~S~A~P~P +~1~9~7~3~5~6~7~6~7~7~0~

[@prosserdaqwerty]

Therefore ladies, the next time someone forgets a birthday or anniversary...

[@adrianbarker1130]

I've forgotten what I was gonna say!

[@bernardofitzpatrick5403]

Hahaha

[@pinkpanda5696]

You though of Lance because Laird Hamilton played Lance Burkhart in an awesome, old surfing movie called The North Shore.

[@patrickgoldsmith4407]

Lance was the surfer in Apocalypse Now perhaps?

[@randomdudeonyoutube.]

Everybody clapped on Zoom. Wow

[@jdmarino]

About once a month I forget if I have yet washed my hair while I'm still in the shower.

[@miabonandrini4460]

this made me laugh too loud at 3:00am

[@MysticQT]

Apparently according to my boss, I had a mid year check in meeting in the fall- I don’t recall any of it.

[@EthanYuxuanChen]

I forgot why I started watching this video but I guess that’s totally OK

[@Luiseut59]

It's funny because when I'm having the tip of the tongue effect, I do come up with the "ugly sisters" of the target word but because I'm bilingual, they're usually in another language.

[@oursimplearts]

80 Year Olds: "Write that down.....................WRITE THAT DOWN"!!

[@richardhaas1989]

Why is it I inevitably remember the second time I go back to a room what I am looking for? I am not using some mnemonic. I am not repeating it over and over as I go back the second time. My brain must be using some simple trick this time it did not use the first time. Is anyone investigating this so we can just employ this trick the first time?

[@miabonandrini4460]

not me forgetting to watch the video and just reading the comments

[@tularampoudel1689]

I don't know that where i Picked up my phone also when i See this video i know that where i forgot thanks