Forgetting + Process Improvement

 

Psych & Such    |    20 JULY 2022 

Today I had a conversation with someone who has ADHD.  We discussed their difficulties with remembering consumed content such as books.  For them, the amount of competing information during reading sessions (i.e., racing thoughts, external stimuli, etc.) means information may not even be reaching their working memory (see diagram above).  In essence, they forget.

I have a very different experience with forgetting.  I generally don't have trouble focusing in and concentrating on what is in front of me, to include reading a book.  However, where I tend to falter in my learning and memory is failing to rehearse and review information enough to encode it into my long-term memory (see diagram above).  In essence, I too, forget.

This is interesting because why people fail to learn or are prone to forget potentially differs across people.  Even within a person, why they fail to learn or are prone to forget can differ across situations.  In understanding this, we might benefit to consider the following:

1. Attention is a key factor in memory and learning.  If you or others aren't attentive or attending to what is important, consider what you can do to remove distractions and barriers.  Or, consider rescheduling to another time where you can be more attentive.
• When am I most attentive?  Least attentive?  
• Does the time of the day matter?
• Does my level of stress or fatigue matter?
• Do I need a completely quiet or familiar place?
• Do I need to prime myself before going into a situation where I require optimal attention?
• Do I need to take frequent breaks?
• What piques my interest?  What doesn't?
2. Rehearsal and repetition is not optional.  Even if you have effective attention in a situation, you may still not solidify information and memories without reviewing...and potentially, reviewing often.
• How might I rehearse?
• How often should I review information, materials, content, stories, etc.?
• Will review include all of my senses (i.e., Auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory, gustatory)?
• How can I share what I know with someone else (e.g., storytelling)?
• How can I make connections to other information I already know?
• How does the information make me feel?
• What are my reactions to the information?

Are you doing all you can to set yourself up for success when it comes to memory formation, learning, and recall?

Photo source:  https://www.learnupon.com/blog/what-is-information-processing-theory/