Scientific American Frontiers Season 14 Episode 2 Don't Forget!

Scientific American Frontiers season 14 episode 2, titled "Don't Forget!," delves into the world of memory and forgetfulness. Host Alan Alda takes viewers on a journey to explore the human brain and how it retains information.

The episode begins by examining the brains of people who have superior memory skills, known as "memory champions." From memorizing decks of cards to recalling digits of pi to an astonishing degree of accuracy, these individuals demonstrate the incredible capacity of the human brain.

Alda then speaks with experts in the field of memory research to understand how memories are stored in the brain, from short-term memory to long-term memory. He learns about the role of the hippocampus, a small structure in the brain that is crucial for the formation and consolidation of memories.

The episode also explores the phenomenon of forgetting and why it happens. Viewers learn about the different types of forgetting, including decay, interference, and retrieval failure. Researchers explain how these processes occur in the brain and why some memories are more susceptible to being forgotten than others.

Alda also discusses the impact of aging on memory and how it changes over time. Scientists have found that certain types of memory, such as the ability to form new memories, decline with age, while other types, such as semantic memory (knowledge of words and concepts), remain intact.

To better understand how memory works, Alda participates in a series of memory tests. From memorizing a list of words to recalling a sequence of numbers, Alda puts his own memory to the test with surprising results.

Finally, the episode explores the concept of "memory palaces," a technique used by ancient Greeks and Romans to aid in memorization. Alda speaks with Joshua Foer, author of the book "Moonwalking with Einstein," who explains how one can use visualization techniques to remember large amounts of information.

Overall, "Don't Forget!" is an illuminating and fascinating journey into the world of memory and forgetfulness. By exploring the latest research and techniques, viewers gain a deeper understanding of how the brain works and what we can do to improve our memory skills.