Scientific Secrets for a Powerful Memory
Peter M. Vishton
Class Preview
1:34
- In-depth Instruction; over 186 mins
- On-demand video access anytime
- Bonus downloadable PDF resources
- Access to class Q&A
Your Amazing Prehistoric Memory
33:24
Meet Peter Vishton and start class by taking a quick memory test. Then get an introduction the Major System, one of the most basic ways your memory encodes information. Learn how to encode numbers into words and distinct images and explore the prehistoric roots of why we think the way we do.
Encoding Information With Images
32:33
Focus on one of the simplest tricks for memorizing information: the method of loci. Then peek inside the minds of mental athletes to see how their seemingly superhuman feats of memory are rooted in nothing more than the innate brain power that we all possess.
Maximizing Short- & Long-Term Memory
29:48
Peter walks you through the three steps of successful memory: from perception to short-term memory, encoding short-term memory to long-term memory, then retrieving information from long-term memory. Explore how amnesia and other hippocampus-related damage can disrupt this normal memory process.
Why & When We Forget
29:45
Forgetting happens to the best of us, but it can be mitigated through the use of several key techniques. Investigate the Ebbinghaus forgetting function, the most effective way to remember a new set of information, and how to access information that's on the tip of your tongue.
Keeping Your Whole Brain in Peak Condition
29:21
Peter shows you how to keep your brain healthy for peak-functioning memory. You'll also investigate the science behind exercise, sleep and nutrition, and how they relate to optimal mental functioning.
Human Memory Is Reconstruction, Not Replay
30:38
In this final lesson, consider some of the important roles that technology can and should play in backing up our memories.
Memory is without a doubt the most powerful — and practical — tool of everyday life. By linking both your past and your future, memory gives you the power to plan, reason, perceive and understand. Join Peter M. Vishton, Ph.D., as he reveals scientifically proven strategies to strengthen and improve your memory at any age. After all, the better your memory, the better your brain functions and the more information you’ll have at your immediate disposal.
Peter M. Vishton
Peter M. Vishton is an associate professor of psychology at The College of William & Mary. He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology and Cognitive Science from Cornell University. Before joining the faculty of William & Mary, he taught at Northwestern University and served as the program director for developmental and learning sciences at the National Science Foundation. A consulting editor for the journal Child Development, Prof. Vishton has published articles in many of the top journals in the field of psychology, including Psychological Science, Science, and the Journal of Experimental Psychology.