How We Learn

How We Learn teaches you how your brain creates and recalls memories, what you can do to remember things better and longer, and how you can boost your creativity and improve your gut decisions along the way.

Similar to the way we create habits (remember Hebb’s rule?), memories are also formed when neurons form new connections. The bridge between two neurons is called a synapse, and when these are newly formed, that’s when we remember. When we then recall that memory later, the synapses that belong to it grow thicker, making it easier to recall it in the future.

However, different memories are stored in entirely different parts of the brain. When you meet your new neighbor John, and try to remember his name, that’s a conscious effort at making a memory. These new memories are stored inside the hippocampus of your brain. Then why is it that people with Alzheimer’s can still remember all the old stuff, but forget you just brought them their food 2 minutes ago?

That’s because Alzheimer’s damages the hippocampus, but leaves the neocortex in tact. Old memories that were formed unconsciously, for example going to Disneyland for the first time with your grandparents (personal example) are stored there. It’s the area of the brain that controls and processes our movements, visuals and senses. Memories stored here are much stronger, because each part of your memory is stored in a different section.

For example the taste of the ice-cream my grandma bought me is stored in the synapses of the taste section, while the 1920’s design of the ice-cream parlor lies in the visual processing section. More synapses in more locations means better recall, and that’s why some ancient memories are still so vivid in your brain.

Maybe you met your new neighbor John at a party, then I’m sure you know the scenario. He introduces himself, you shake his hand, and already start repeating his name in your head, so you don’t forget it within 20 seconds. “John, John, John, John…” Well, you can save it next time, this won’t help. It’ll just make your brain bored. But when you overhear him introducing himself again a few days later to your wife or husband, this will actually thicken the synapses and help you remember his name. This is called the spacing effect, and has been observed when training animals. If animals are given time between sessions where they have to find their way through a maze, they remember the structure of the maze better two weeks later. What does this mean for your studying? Simple: Study for the same time, but in multiple sessions, instead of one. So don’t cram in 8 hours of…