Dr Rangan Chatterjee | Neuroscientist Reveals The Truth About Memory & How We Can Remember Better | Charan Ranganath @DrChatterjeeRangan | Uploaded April 2024 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
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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.
#feelbetterlivemore
-----
Connect with Dr Ranganath:
instagram.com/thememorydoc
twitter.com/CharanRanganath
Dr Ranganath’s book:
Why We Remember: The Science of Memory and How it Shapes Us – US: amzn.to/4d235t1 UK: amzn.to/4cUT6FT
#feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast
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Listen to all podcast episodes on drchatterjee.com/podcast or via these podcast platforms by searching for 'Feel Better, Live More'.
Apple Podcasts apple.co/feelbetterlivemore
Spotify open.spotify.com/show/6NyPQfcSR9nj0DPDr2ixrK
-----
Follow Dr Chatterjee at:
Website: drchatterjee.com
Facebook: facebook.com/drchatterjee
Twitter: twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Instagram: instagram.com/drchatterjee
Newsletter: drchatterjee.com/subscription
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.
VIVOBAREFOOT is sponsoring today's show. To get 20% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER visit: bit.ly/3VVFi8b
Download my FREE Sleep Guide HERE: bit.ly/3OzqCap
Download my FREE Habit Change Guide HERE: bit.ly/3QKGGFW
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.
#feelbetterlivemore
-----
Connect with Dr Ranganath:
instagram.com/thememorydoc
twitter.com/CharanRanganath
Dr Ranganath’s book:
Why We Remember: The Science of Memory and How it Shapes Us – US: amzn.to/4d235t1 UK: amzn.to/4cUT6FT
#feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast
-------
Sign up to my newsletter - FRIDAY FIVE drchatterjee.com/fridayfive
Find out about THE THREE QUESTION JOURNAL bit.ly/3TSaYtX
Order HAPPY MIND HAPPY LIFE. US & Canada amzn.to/3DRxjgp, UK amzn.to/304opgJ
Read FEEL GREAT LOSE WEIGHT. US & Canada amzn.to/2GWPgls, UK amzn.to/2W6bsOE
Order FEEL BETTER IN 5. US & Canada amzn.to/2EB2oM0, UK amzn.to/2G0XK7l
Read THE STRESS SOLUTION amzn.to/2MZ8u8h
Order THE 4 PILLAR PLAN available via amzn.to/2yGfpuB Or the US version is HOW TO MAKE DISEASE DISAPPEAR amzn.to/2Gj1YEL
-----
Listen to all podcast episodes on drchatterjee.com/podcast or via these podcast platforms by searching for 'Feel Better, Live More'.
Apple Podcasts apple.co/feelbetterlivemore
Spotify open.spotify.com/show/6NyPQfcSR9nj0DPDr2ixrK
-----
Follow Dr Chatterjee at:
Website: drchatterjee.com
Facebook: facebook.com/drchatterjee
Twitter: twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Instagram: instagram.com/drchatterjee
Newsletter: drchatterjee.com/subscription
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.
