DT | Brain Wiser Series - "Why You Forgot What You Went Downstairs For", 11:45 AM

If you walked downstairs and can’t for the life of you recall why, you probably don’t have dementia or Alzheimer’s – it’s something most of us do.   Memory comes in five different varieties.  Some memories are embedded in our brains as ‘muscle memory,’ which is why we remember how to tie our shoes or ride a bicycle.  Other memories relate to episodes of our lives.  Some originate with school and learning.  As you might guess, we have certain memories that are stronger than others.  So why is it you can remember all the words to an advertiser’s jingle from decades ago, but you can’t remember the name of the person next to you, introduced just seconds ago?

Researchers are discovering fascinating features of the brain’s ability to learn and remember, including “mirror neurons”, what enhances the strength of memories, the link between exercise and memory, the importance of sleep, and the Power of Seven.  When is forgetting just a lapse as opposed to an indicator of a serious problem?  We will cover the memory pathways in your brain and how they work, and we’ll discuss what we can do to improve our ability to remember (or at least have an explanation for why we can’t). 

 
Dr. Carolyn J. Cottrell is a lifelong educator.   She has taught students from ages 8 to 68, in both public and private schools.  With a bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Washington University, St. Louis) she began her career as a secondary social studies teacher, earning her MAT from Webster University and K-8 certification as well.  After teaching mostly middle school social studies and English for 15 years, she shifted to University Academic Advising at Webster University and was an adjunct professor for both undergraduate and graduate classes there.  She earned her Ph.D. in Education at St. Louis University, where she focused on adult learners and adjunct professors in higher education