Filtering out unhelpful information can enhance human memory retention.
Scientists at the University of Oregon in the United States have demonstrated that perception, or visual memory, does not depend on the brain’s storage capacity but rather on the ability to eliminate unnecessary information.
“Until now, it was believed that individuals with high visual memory have larger memory capacities, but in reality, it depends on the filtering ability – a neural mechanism that controls which information is brought into awareness,” stated Edward Vogel, the lead researcher.
The findings challenge the common belief about memory capacity, which suggests that how much information a person can remember is reliant on the amount of information crammed into the brain at one time.
Vogel and his team believe that these results will lead to better methods for improving memory and enhancing treatments for cognitive disorders, such as schizophrenia.
M.T. (Reuters)
