Why Super Learners Have Bad Memory

And how do they still remember a lot

You don't remember better by trying to remember.

So please, stop blaming yourself for having a "bad memory". Our brains are natural forgetting machines. In other words, our brains are better at forgetting than remembering.

This is so counterintuitive.

We think of super learners (those who seem to be able to learn anything and ace their exams) as having a superb memory and easily absorbing and retaining information.

This is not true.

But if our brains are forgetting machines, how do they manage to do that?

The Brain: A Forgetting Machine

I first read this concept in Rodrigo Quian Quiroga's book "The Forgetting Machine".

He explains that our brains don't work like cameras. Memories are not stored in our brains as photographs or perfect snapshots, where simply thinking about a moment allows us to recall every detail with precision.

This is wrong for two main reasons:

1.Memories are reconstructed; we add or omit details. Our life experiences can change memory and modify its content.

2.Remembering everything is computationally impossible; forgetting helps manage information overload. If we remembered every detail, our brains would become overloaded with irrelevant information. Forgetting is a filter.

3.Forgetting helps us adapt; it is an essential survival feature. It frees up mental space to learn new skills and adjust to our environment.

In conclusion, forgetting makes us focus and remember what's most important for survival.