When most of us think of memory, we imagine a tidy mental archive where every moment of our lives is stored for future reference. Neuroscientist Charan Ranganath says that could not be further from the truth. In his book Why We Remember, he argues that flaws in our memory such as forgetting are not mistakes at all but powerful features that allow us to learn, adapt, and even survive.
According to Ranganath, memories are built through connections between neurons, and those connections are never perfect. This imperfection, however, is what makes “error-driven learning” so effective. By struggling to recall information and sometimes getting it wrong, we give our brains a chance to refine those neural networks and strengthen the ones that matter. That is why active learning methods such as practicing a new skill, navigating a city without GPS, or rehearsing lines in a play can be far more effective than passive review.
Forgetting, too, plays a crucial role. Imagine remembering every single face you pass on the street or every hotel room number from years of travel. You would drown in irrelevant details. By letting go of information that no longer serves us, the brain creates space for what truly matters. As Ranganath explains, forgetting prevents us from becoming mental hoarders.
Of course, as we age, memory can feel less reliable. The problem is not always the inability to form new memories, but is also an overload of distractions. His advice? Focus on three principles:
- Distinctiveness: Make memories vivid by attaching sights, sounds, or emotions to them.
- Organization: Use tools like the memory palace technique to link new information into a context you already understand.
- Cues: Give your brain reminders, whether through music, visuals, or simple associations like placing an object where it will trigger recall.
Interestingly, memories are not only fragile but also social. Sharing a story with someone can reshape it, blending your recollection with their reactions or even their own suggestions. Over time, what we think of as “our” memories can become collective ones.
Ranganath’s perspective offers a refreshing takeaway: memory is not a static recording of the past but a living, adaptive system. And in many ways, its imperfections are what make it most valuable.
Tags: aging, brain, learning, memoryCategorised in: Uncategorized
This post was written by Christine Rizk