I once met this amazing girl at a popular hangout in Kampala on a Friday night. We talked alot, exchanged numbers and then I realized i had forgotten her name. I didn't know what name to save her number under so i just put "Amazing girl". How could i not remember the name of the best person i had met in almost 6months?
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked myself.
I was disappointed in myself and i couldn't ask her again lest i come off as the ego-istic misogynist that doesn't pay attention to a girl talking. So,
- New information e.g test notes, names, dates etc
Most people can't remember the name of the person they just got introduced to 10 seconds ago and it happens to me alot. Although this might seem like you didn't care to memorize the name, it's simply your brain failing to imprint this new information. The information is there but buried so deep because it's the least relevant thing you know. Your sudden realization that you don't remember said name when you need it will fire up your brain to remember the next time this very person re-introduces him or herself. This brings the older information nearer so that it sticks. The second time is the charm. You most certainly won't forget it then.
The same applies to when you find a question in an exam that you're sure you read about but somehow you can't remember it. It has skipped your mind and it really pisses you off. Your brain is probably scared that you're mad at it. When you leave that exam and reread that part again you'll remember it for life. So i guess the best way to read for an exam is to have someone test you with random questions before said exam.
If you forget once and remind yourself you'll remember the next time depending on how vital said information is.
- New images e.g faces
You meet someone for the first time and it's just a face. Just a face like one of the guy you bypassed as you walked to work this morning. Not much information is attached to this face/image so it's sent to the back of your brain. It's just a face.
The second time you see this face however, it will be a familiar face. "I know this face" you'll say. But if the face owner wasn't doing anything extraordinary(e.g embarassing him/herself) the first time you saw him then chances are you won't remember where you first saw this face. It now becomes a familiar face or someone you know if they were doing something extraordinary the first time.
The third time is the charm. You have amassed enough information(from the three meetings) to attach to the image to remember it very well. You now know this person and can even describe him/her.
So perhaps movies do lie when a bystander that saw a criminal only once is able to describe them perfectly. If one was a victim of the crime, it'd be tragic and they'd most probably remember due to a very active brain during the criminal act. Or they'd totally forget it because their brain loses it during intense situations.
In the same way, a new movie is enjoyable but you don't really understand some parts of it. The second time is the best. You understand parts you missed the last time which brings a better experience. You definitely like it more now. The third time simply means you now love this movie.
- New journey
When you travel somewhere for the first time it'll seem to be farther than it actually is. This is because your brain is slow when writing all this new information. It's basically struggling. The farther-ness of this journey can also be attributed to the fact that "you can't wait to get there"
The return journey however will seem shorter. Simply because the brain is now faster at writing this already familiar information plus also because you hate that you have to go back.
The jouneys you love to make are the longest but you don't complain. The ones you hate to make are the shortest.
Experts recommend that you give your brain a new task everyday. Read a new book, meet a new person, watch a new movie, do something you've never done etc. Also exercise your brain with puzzles, word games, video games, board games, riddles etc. Get thinking or you'll have a zombie brain.
Regards,
HAIL 