Memory Vs Human Memory

Memory: such a common word everyone hears each day. A lot of times, we rely on what we know as our memory to achieve everyday tasks, especially in school, where memory is most crucial. When we ace our exams, others usually say we have good memories, due to the fact that we were able to remember the concepts taught clearly. Accordingly, when we fail, we usually say to ourselves that our memory is failing us. In view of that, one may infer that majority of the population’s perception of the term memory is simply remembering ideas, thoughts, and events: nothing more. However, what they do not know is that the concept of memory, like any other concept concerning the human mind, is a complex one, but is easy to understand. Nevertheless, before delving

Like the other episodes of the Test Your Brain series, it was entertaining to watch and at the same time absolutely educational. This time it featured a staged robbery in a certain park, and it lets the audience be the witnesses, relying on their memories to apprehend the felon. Once again, by watching the film, I have obtained rational thoughts and ideas concerning the human memory. Before, I was like the majority as stated above: I thought memory is just purely remembering something, where in fact, I have realized by watching the film and by listening to further discussions done by our professor that memory is not solely recalling thoughts. Memory is involved in the process of receiving the external stimuli that is to be remembered, as well. If no stimuli are received, how can one remember? Furthermore, if one does not retain the stimuli received, how can those be processed to be recalled by the human mind? For that reason, we may deduce the formal definition of memory. As pointed out by the film, memory is the selective process of receiving stimuli from our surroundings, afterwards retaining those stimuli so that when the time comes that it needs to be recalled, the brain may process

When asked how he does that, he responded that he was just an ordinary person like us, and it only takes the proper usage and practice in order for us to achieve the kind of memory skills he has. He even emphasized, use it or lose it. In the documentary, he was challenged with a lot of activities, in order to see whether he really deserves the title of Brain Champion. First, he was tasked to go to the streets and meet people and attempt to memorize the serial numbers of the dollar bills they have in their pockets. He managed to pull this off well, reciting the serial numbers of four one-dollar bills in one go. His technique was quite hilarious: he uses memory maps for every letter and number he encounters. He shall imagine himself walking around his house, and he shall associate a letter or a number with a piece of furniture. Afterwards, when it is time for him to recall the concepts he has stored, he shall roam around his house to remember the information needed. On the other hand, another technique in retaining ideas well is to link the items together. To show the effectiveness of this technique, the movie asked the audience to memorize the ten objects it shall show. In my case, I only remembered four of the items. However, when the movie incorporated the items in a narrative, I was able to recall nine of them. Linking the