logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
1h 16m

The Science Of Memory: How To Get Better...

10% Happier
About this episode

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.

---

A neuroscientist’s strategies to help you remember what really matters, and how mood, multitasking and other people can impact our memories

Charan Ranganath is a professor at the Center for Neuroscience and Department of Psychology and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California at Davis. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory’s Power to Hold on to What Matters. 

In this episode we talk about:

  • The different kinds of memory that help us function day to day
  • The impact mood has on memories - not just making them, but recalling them
  • Why forgetting is not only useful but essential - even if it doesn’t always feel like it
  • Practical tips to help us remember better, including distinctiveness, meaning & organization, planting cues, and chunking
  • Why making errors is actually one of the best things you can do for learning and memory 

Related Episodes:

How To Prevent Dementia | Lisa Genova — Ten Percent Happier

How to Actually Be Present | Matthew Brensilver — Ten Percent Happier  

Sign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Ten Percent Happier online bookstore

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/charan-ranganath/

Up next
Today
The Science Of Manifestation: Can This Stanford Neuroscientist Convince A Skeptical Dan To Give It A Shot? | Dr. James R. Doty
Six practical steps to harness the full power of your mind. Our guest today is James R. Doty, a neurosurgeon who has just written a whole book about the science of manifestation – although, as you’ll hear him admit, there’s very little ‘magic’ involved in his process. James R. Do ... Show More
1h 16m
Jul 7
Ezra Klein On: Sane News Consumption; The Power of Meditation; The Future of the Species; And the Message of His Tattoo
On maintaining sanity in insane times. Ezra Klein is an opinion columnist and host of the award-winning Ezra Klein Show podcast at The New York Times. His latest book is Abundance, co-authored with Derek Thompson. He is also the author of Why We’re Polarized, an instant New York ... Show More
1h 15m
Jul 6
How Meditation Can Help You Handle Injured Feelings and Injured Muscles | Dawn Mauricio
Plus: How to build a meditation practice you keep coming back to. We’re in the midst of an exciting evolution of the overall 10% Happier project. In our quest to make this podcast more actionable – to help you operationalize all the game-changing ideas you encounter on this pod – ... Show More
24m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
How to Improve Memory & Focus Using Science Protocols | Dr. Charan Ranganath
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Charan Ranganath, Ph.D., professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of California, Davis, and a world expert on the neuroscience of memory. We discuss how memory works, what causes diseases of dementia like Alzheimer’s, and science ... Show More
2h 39m
Oct 2024
Special Episode: Dr. Charan Ranganath & Why We Remember
How is it that we can’t remember where we put our keys or the name of the person we just met, but we can recall in excruciating detail the embarrassing interaction we had at the grocery store ten years ago? Sometimes it seems like our memory works against us more than it does for ... Show More
57m 27s
Apr 2024
The Science Behind Memory - Dr. Charan Ranganath : 1152
In today’s episode you’ll explore the complexities of memory with Dr. Charan Ranganath, a top expert in cognitive neuroscience. This episode takes you through the fascinating ways our brains record, process, and utilize memories to navigate daily life and shape our futures. You’l ... Show More
1h 21m
Jan 2025
1025: Boosting Your Learning and Presenting with the Science of Memory with Dr. Charan Ranganath
Dr. Charan Ranganath discusses the science behind our brain’s capacity to remember (and forget) and how it can help you make better decisions and impressions.  — YOU’LL LEARN — 1) How emotions shape memory2) How to hack your brain for enhanced retention 3) The 4 C's of memorable ... Show More
43m 27s
May 10
#939 - Dr Charan Ranganath - The Neuroscience Of How To Improve Your Memory & Focus
Dr. Charan Ranganath is a cognitive neuroscientist, professor, and an author. What are memories? Our brains are shaped by countless experiences, but how exactly do we store these stories? Learn what makes some memories stick, why others fade, and how our minds handle the ones we' ... Show More
1h 15m
Sep 2024
Natural Ways to Prevent Alzheimer's and Boost Brain Health with Dr. Heather Sandison : 1199
In this episode of The Human Upgrade, Dave Asprey and Dr. Heather Sandison discuss actionable strategies for optimizing brain health and longevity. Dr. Sandison explains how lifestyle changes, including diet, oral hygiene, and sleep, can help prevent cognitive decline. She also s ... Show More
1h 2m
Jul 2024
How To Optimise Your Brain Health, Improve Your Memory & Unlock Your Full Potential with Jim Kwik #469
After suffering a traumatic brain injury as a child, this week’s returning podcast guest was labelled "the boy with the broken brain" by teachers and peers, shaping his beliefs about his own capabilities and potential. Fast-forward to today, and he’s transformed his challenges in ... Show More
2h 22m
May 30
Unlock Your Memory by Memorizing Less
The average American takes in about 34 gigabytes of information each day -- that's a lot for our brains to process and remember. Top memory expert Dr. Charan Ranganath sits down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta to share why the key to remembering more may be to memorize less. Plus, Ranganat ... Show More
39m 30s
Feb 2025
#334: The Memory Doc on The DISTURBING Truth About Why your Memories are a lie
Is your memory a reliable record of the past? Or a story your brain keeps rewriting?   Leading neuroscientist Dr Charan Ranganath, aka The Memory Doc, joins us on Unscripted With Spencer Lodge, to reveal how our brains store, distort, and reshape our memories.   From false memori ... Show More
1h 8m
May 12
What Science Says About Reversing Brain Aging | Dr. Marc Milstein [Best of]
Unleash the full potential of your brain at any age with Dr. Marc Milstein's revolutionary strategies. In this fascinating conversation, the Age-Proof Your Brain author reveals daily habits that combat memory loss, boost productivity, and help you live a longer, sharper life. Dis ... Show More
1h 3m