Forgetting and the management of Forgetting and the management of information overloadinformation overload

• Having a good memory is not just about Having a good memory is not just about remembering as much as possible.remembering as much as possible.

• Forgetting is important too - an integral part of Forgetting is important too - an integral part of several memory systems and a key feature of how several memory systems and a key feature of how memory works physiologically.memory works physiologically.

• Modern working life puts huge demands on Modern working life puts huge demands on information processing that many people find information processing that many people find stressful - it can be difficult to remember everything stressful - it can be difficult to remember everything we have to do, have done, or has happened to us.we have to do, have done, or has happened to us.

• New “intelligent” information processing software New “intelligent” information processing software should take more account of advances in our should take more account of advances in our understanding of memory systems. understanding of memory systems. But should they But should they compensate for, or mimic their known compensate for, or mimic their known failings….including forgetting?failings….including forgetting?

The email burden…..and remembering The email burden…..and remembering the actions to followthe actions to follow

Memory “traces” in the brain are Memory “traces” in the brain are thought to involve alterations at thought to involve alterations at

synapses synapses

Glutamate-receptor mediated Glutamate-receptor mediated neurotransmission at “plastic” synapsesneurotransmission at “plastic” synapses

Courtesy of Doherty and Collingridge, 2003Courtesy of Doherty and Collingridge, 2003

Synaptic potentiation shows varying Synaptic potentiation shows varying persistencepersistence

Memory also fails for psychological Memory also fails for psychological reasons….reasons….

The “seven sins” of memoryThe “seven sins” of memory

• The sin of transienceThe sin of transience• The sin of absent-The sin of absent-

mindednessmindedness• The sin of blockingThe sin of blocking• The sin of misattributionThe sin of misattribution• The sin of suggestibilityThe sin of suggestibility

• The sin of biasThe sin of bias• The sin of persistenceThe sin of persistence

• Weakening or lossWeakening or loss• Breakdown of attentionBreakdown of attention• Thwarted memory Thwarted memory

searchsearch• Assigning to wrong Assigning to wrong

sourcesource• Implanted by a leading Implanted by a leading

questionquestion• Editing and rewritingEditing and rewriting• Repeated recall of Repeated recall of

disturbing informationdisturbing informationAfter Schacter (2001)After Schacter (2001)

The “seven sins” of memory (Dan The “seven sins” of memory (Dan Schacter)Schacter)

• All of these failures of memory are exacerbated by All of these failures of memory are exacerbated by age, but…age, but…

• Schacter argues that they are not really “failures” at Schacter argues that they are not really “failures” at all, but reflect the proper operation of a finely tuned all, but reflect the proper operation of a finely tuned system…. not vices but virtues.system…. not vices but virtues.

“…“…the seven sins are by-products of otherwise the seven sins are by-products of otherwise adaptive features of memory, a price we pay for adaptive features of memory, a price we pay for processes and functions that serve us well in many processes and functions that serve us well in many respects”.respects”.

Schacter, 2001, p 184Schacter, 2001, p 184

The “seven sins” of memory (Dan The “seven sins” of memory (Dan Schacter)Schacter)

• Intelligent errors occur in a number of Intelligent errors occur in a number of cognitive systems, including memory. They cognitive systems, including memory. They reflect features of the system that normally reflect features of the system that normally serves us well.serves us well.

• The sin of persistenceThe sin of persistence - PTSD can be disabling, - PTSD can be disabling, but persistent memory of successful escape but persistent memory of successful escape from any life-threatening situation is adaptive.from any life-threatening situation is adaptive.

• The sin of transienceThe sin of transience - forgetting things quickly - forgetting things quickly is annoying, is annoying, but imagine what it would be like if but imagine what it would be like if we failed to forget most of the events of we failed to forget most of the events of everyday life.everyday life.

• The The “less is more”“less is more” principle. principle.

The “less is more” principleThe “less is more” principle

• Not a bad principle for life….Not a bad principle for life….

…….nor for memory too..nor for memory too.

• Should new information technology software be Should new information technology software be designed to compensate for human forgetting?designed to compensate for human forgetting?

or….or….• Should such software be designed to mimic human Should such software be designed to mimic human

forgetting and so be an externalised part of our own forgetting and so be an externalised part of our own minds?minds?

• ....after all IT systems do not have to serve ....after all IT systems do not have to serve allall the the functions of human memory, and their hardware has functions of human memory, and their hardware has properties that are quite different from the physiology of properties that are quite different from the physiology of the human brain.the human brain.

These issues are only aggravated by the These issues are only aggravated by the ageing population of the UKageing population of the UK