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Mental Health

I’m a memory researcher — here’s how to never forget someone’s name

By
Tracy Swartz
Published April 29, 2024, 4:56 p.m. ET
Two cognitive psychology researchers are debunking common misconceptions about human memory while sharing easy ways to recall different types of information.
Two cognitive psychology researchers are debunking common misconceptions about human memory while sharing easy ways to recall different types of information. Getty Images/iStockphoto

It’s time to forgive yourself for forgetting.

Two cognitive psychology researchers are debunking common misconceptions about human memory while sharing easy ways to recall different types of information.

Dr. Megan Sumeracki and Dr. Althea Need Kaminske say that some forgetfulness is natural because it allows the brain to remember more stuff. Memory is “more like a Wiki page” than a recording device because details can be edited, the pair write in their book “The Psychology of Memory,” out May 16.

“Because we are most aware of our memory when we have trouble remembering something, our intuitions about how memory works might be a little biased,” notes Kaminske, the senior director of student academic support and achievement at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

“For example, I spend an embarrassing amount of time looking for my phone, water bottle and keys,” Kaminske explained. “You may be unsurprised to learn that our memory systems are not necessarily designed to remember where we put our phones. Or keys. Or water bottles.”

Dr. Megan Sumeracki and Dr. Althea Need Kaminske say that some forgetfulness is natural because it allows the brain to remember more stuff.
Doctors say that some forgetfulness is natural because it allows the brain to remember more stuff. Getty Images
Memory is "more like a Wiki page" than a recording device because details can be edited, the pair write in their new book, "The Psychology of Memory," due out on May 16.
Memory is “more like a Wiki page” than a recording device because details can be edited, the researchers write in “The Psychology of Memory,” out May 16. Routledge

For soon-to-be parents or those who have small children, the psychologists recommend leaving a purse in the back seat of their car as a cue to remember to take your child out of their car seat. This technique is known as “event-based” recall.

In the US, 29 children died last year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle, according to the National Safety Council.

Another strategy is “retrieval practice” — pulling facts from memory.

Kaminske and Sumeracki, an associate professor at Rhode Island College, suggest deliberately addressing a new colleague by their name every time you see them, which will help you remember the name.

“Anyone who has studied knows that regular practice is essential,” the authors added. “But to become an expert in a field of learning, people need to employ deliberate practice.”

Memory tends to decline as people age — and it can be affected by alcohol, medication, sleep deprivation, caffeine and head injuries.

The National Institute on Aging advises seeking medical attention if people find themselves asking the same question repeatedly, getting lost in places that were once familiar, having trouble following recipes or directions, or becoming confused about time, people and places.