Whether it’s where you left your keys or why you entered a room, there are often times when our memory fails us.
But if you often find yourself scratching your head, you’ll be glad to know that help is available.
A Cambridge scientist has revealed his ingenious memory trick… and it’s deceptively simple.
According to Professor Jon Simons, actively trying to remember something is what can prevent the memory from being recovered.
Instead, he advises thinking about something else or finding a way to relax and recall memories.
Whether it’s about where you left your keys or why you entered a room, there are often times when our memory fails us. But if you’re often left scratching your head, you’ll be glad to know that help is at hand (stock image)
The director of the Memory Laboratory at the University of Cambridge explained his memory trick at the Rosebud Podcast.
“What happens when we really try to remember something is that we often block the retrieval of the memory by trying so hard,” he explained.
“And it is only when that effort we have made gradually decreases and perhaps we think about other things or simply calm down and relax, that the memory can be recovered.”
In the podcast, host Gyles Brandreth talked about a time when he remembered the name of someone he had last thought of 55 years ago.
According to Professor Jon Simons, actively trying to remember something, such as where you last saw your phone, is what can prevent the memory from being retrieved (file image)
In response, Professor Simons said: ‘This phenomenon that you describe, that sort of tip-of-the-tongue sensation that you seem to have had, where you know it’s there but you can’t remember it, is a very common sensation that we all experience from time to time.
‘That – the feeling that you knew it was there – suggests that it was one of those memories that for one reason or another had defied time and was something you remembered.
“And that’s what happens, and it’s interesting how often you can think about something over and over again and try really hard to remember it, and try really hard, and suddenly, the moment you think about something else, it suddenly pops into your head, and it’s a pretty common experience.”