But you just said it!
June 13, 2011 9:20 AM Subscribe
Why do I seem to forget information as soon as I use it?
I've been trying to do research on this. It's like a smaller scale of that feeling you get after finishing a test at school, and you feel like you don't remember a thing about what you studied, even though you studied really hard. I have this same problem, but with common pieces of information. Things I read in books, general knowledge. As soon as I use a particular piece of information once, I can't seem to remember it anymore!
I could not find this on the list of Cognitive Biases in Wikipedia, but it intrigues me. I also don't seem to be able to remember details well.
I've been trying to do research on this. It's like a smaller scale of that feeling you get after finishing a test at school, and you feel like you don't remember a thing about what you studied, even though you studied really hard. I have this same problem, but with common pieces of information. Things I read in books, general knowledge. As soon as I use a particular piece of information once, I can't seem to remember it anymore!
I could not find this on the list of Cognitive Biases in Wikipedia, but it intrigues me. I also don't seem to be able to remember details well.
Response by poster: I don't know...it seems more like information I have acquired nonspecific time ago (a book I read two years ago, yesterday on TV, etc) that I can only use once. Once I have transmitted this piece of information from *brain* to *speech*, I haven't a hold of it anymore. This happens regardless of when I acquire it. I can keel knowledge mentally, but as soon as I produce it, it's gone.
posted by Tarumba at 10:10 AM on June 13, 2011
posted by Tarumba at 10:10 AM on June 13, 2011
I've been wondering this myself. My long term memory is great - people are amazed at details I remember from 20 years ago. My short term memory is completely fuxx0red though. I'll be working on something and think "when I finish this, I need to do this ..." and then 5 seconds later I can't remember what the thing I'm supposed to do next is. I sometimes forget people I've met before, and it's embarrassing.
posted by matrushka at 11:24 AM on June 13, 2011
posted by matrushka at 11:24 AM on June 13, 2011
Best answer: Think about the difference between learning something and remembering something. When you study like that, you train yourself that the stuff you are reading only has to be remembered for a little while. Whereas when you are focused on learning, it gets stored in a more permanent way.
Like for example, the area of a circle. I never remember the formula, but if I draw a circle, I *know* how it works and can prod myself to remember the formula.
posted by gjc at 4:23 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Like for example, the area of a circle. I never remember the formula, but if I draw a circle, I *know* how it works and can prod myself to remember the formula.
posted by gjc at 4:23 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I think it may have to do with that, gjc. I do feel like I don't learn things properly, like I don't assimilate the knowledge correctly, and that may have something to do with the way I input the information in my memory.
Thank you!
posted by Tarumba at 5:45 PM on June 13, 2011
Thank you!
posted by Tarumba at 5:45 PM on June 13, 2011
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posted by restless_nomad at 9:59 AM on June 13, 2011