my name is Alan Castel I’m a cognitive psychologist at UCLA and today I’d like
psychologist at UCLA and today I’d like
psychologist at UCLA and today I’d like to tell you three things I’d like to
to tell you three things I’d like to
to tell you three things I’d like to show you how our mind tries to make
show you how our mind tries to make
show you how our mind tries to make sense of the world but sometimes plays
sense of the world but sometimes plays
sense of the world but sometimes plays tricks on us and fills in the gaps I’d
tricks on us and fills in the gaps I’d
tricks on us and fills in the gaps I’d also like to discuss how we become
also like to discuss how we become
also like to discuss how we become selective and need to become selective
selective and need to become selective
selective and need to become selective and then despite experiencing more
and then despite experiencing more
and then despite experiencing more memory challenges as we get older
memory challenges as we get older
memory challenges as we get older perhaps paradoxically
perhaps paradoxically
perhaps paradoxically we become more selective and better at
we become more selective and better at
we become more selective and better at focusing on what’s important I’d like to
focusing on what’s important I’d like to
focusing on what’s important I’d like to show you some interesting demonstrations
show you some interesting demonstrations
show you some interesting demonstrations that illustrate how our mind sometimes
that illustrate how our mind sometimes
that illustrate how our mind sometimes plays tricks on us what I’d like you to
plays tricks on us what I’d like you to
plays tricks on us what I’d like you to do is just to read each phrase in each
do is just to read each phrase in each
do is just to read each phrase in each triangle just read it out loud go ahead
so most of you read these as Paris in
so most of you read these as Paris in the spring once in a lifetime and bird
the spring once in a lifetime and bird
the spring once in a lifetime and bird in the hand but if you slow down and
in the hand but if you slow down and
in the hand but if you slow down and look more closely each phrase says Paris
look more closely each phrase says Paris
look more closely each phrase says Paris in the spring once in a lifetime bird in
in the spring once in a lifetime bird in
in the spring once in a lifetime bird in the hand so you made a mistake but the
the hand so you made a mistake but the
the hand so you made a mistake but the mistake made sense of these sentences
mistake made sense of these sentences
mistake made sense of these sentences and so this is our mind playing tricks
and so this is our mind playing tricks
and so this is our mind playing tricks on us we fill in the gaps so that we can
on us we fill in the gaps so that we can
on us we fill in the gaps so that we can make sense of our world here’s another
make sense of our world here’s another
make sense of our world here’s another illustration just quickly read this to
illustration just quickly read this to
illustration just quickly read this to yourself say it out loud so most of you
yourself say it out loud so most of you
yourself say it out loud so most of you say the cat but then again if you look
say the cat but then again if you look
say the cat but then again if you look more closely the second letter is
more closely the second letter is
more closely the second letter is identical in each word but again our
identical in each word but again our
identical in each word but again our mind interprets these letters to make
mind interprets these letters to make
mind interprets these letters to make sense of what we think they should say
sense of what we think they should say
sense of what we think they should say and the same thing happens with memory
and the same thing happens with memory
and the same thing happens with memory just because we’ve seen something many
just because we’ve seen something many
just because we’ve seen something many times doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll
times doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll
times doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll remember it so how many of you know the
remember it so how many of you know the
remember it so how many of you know the Apple logo pretty much everyone in this
Apple logo pretty much everyone in this
Apple logo pretty much everyone in this room you probably have it right in front
room you probably have it right in front
room you probably have it right in front of you on your phone now I want you to
of you on your phone now I want you to
of you on your phone now I want you to think about the Apple logo and don’t
think about the Apple logo and don’t
think about the Apple logo and don’t look at your phone which way is the byte
look at your phone which way is the byte
look at your phone which way is the byte is it pointing to the left or is it
is it pointing to the left or is it
is it pointing to the left or is it pointing to the right how about this
pointing to the right how about this
pointing to the right how about this stem or the leaf you’re pointing to the
stem or the leaf you’re pointing to the
stem or the leaf you’re pointing to the left or pointing to the right so when I
left or pointing to the right so when I
left or pointing to the right so when I tried to do this I then drew the Apple
tried to do this I then drew the Apple
tried to do this I then drew the Apple logo from memory and I’ll show you what
logo from memory and I’ll show you what
logo from memory and I’ll show you what I came up with you can laugh at my
I came up with you can laugh at my
I came up with you can laugh at my mistake and there’s plenty of them here
mistake and there’s plenty of them here
mistake and there’s plenty of them here but this is what I thought the Apple
but this is what I thought the Apple
but this is what I thought the Apple logo kind of looked like and then I
logo kind of looked like and then I
logo kind of looked like and then I thought well maybe my memory is not so
thought well maybe my memory is not so
thought well maybe my memory is not so good so I’ll ask my daughter my
good so I’ll ask my daughter my
good so I’ll ask my daughter my seven-year-old daughter she’s a very
seven-year-old daughter she’s a very
seven-year-old daughter she’s a very good memory I asked her do you know the
good memory I asked her do you know the
good memory I asked her do you know the Apple logo says of course I do
Apple logo says of course I do
Apple logo says of course I do and so this is what she drew okay now I
and so this is what she drew okay now I
and so this is what she drew okay now I had the bite on the left she had the
had the bite on the left she had the
had the bite on the left she had the bite on the right so we had a little
bite on the right so we had a little
bite on the right so we had a little contest he was right we both had teeth
contest he was right we both had teeth
contest he was right we both had teeth marks we have this genetic family
marks we have this genetic family
marks we have this genetic family history of putting teeth marks in the
history of putting teeth marks in the
history of putting teeth marks in the Apple logo now I’ll give you a
Apple logo now I’ll give you a
Apple logo now I’ll give you a multiple-choice test so this should make
multiple-choice test so this should make
multiple-choice test so this should make it easier right No so how many of you
it easier right No so how many of you
it easier right No so how many of you can identify the Apple in this lineup
can identify the Apple in this lineup
can identify the Apple in this lineup I hear several different love letters
I hear several different love letters
I hear several different love letters from the alphabet when we ask people
from the alphabet when we ask people
from the alphabet when we ask people UCLA undergraduates fewer than 50% of
UCLA undergraduates fewer than 50% of
UCLA undergraduates fewer than 50% of people could correctly identify the
people could correctly identify the
people could correctly identify the correct Apple logo so simply because
correct Apple logo so simply because
correct Apple logo so simply because we’ve seen something many times doesn’t
we’ve seen something many times doesn’t
we’ve seen something many times doesn’t necessarily mean we remember it but
necessarily mean we remember it but
necessarily mean we remember it but perhaps there’s good reason we don’t
perhaps there’s good reason we don’t
perhaps there’s good reason we don’t want to burden our memory with this
want to burden our memory with this
want to burden our memory with this information we don’t need to remember
information we don’t need to remember
information we don’t need to remember what the Apple logo looks like how about
what the Apple logo looks like how about
what the Apple logo looks like how about things that could potentially save our
things that could potentially save our
things that could potentially save our lives so how many of you know where the
lives so how many of you know where the
lives so how many of you know where the nearest fire extinguisher is perhaps at
nearest fire extinguisher is perhaps at
nearest fire extinguisher is perhaps at your workplace or at your home maybe
your workplace or at your home maybe
your workplace or at your home maybe you’ve seen it it’s bright red I was
you’ve seen it it’s bright red I was
you’ve seen it it’s bright red I was taking a safety training course in my
taking a safety training course in my
taking a safety training course in my office building at UCLA we’re in the
office building at UCLA we’re in the
office building at UCLA we’re in the basement and we were asked the same
basement and we were asked the same
basement and we were asked the same question and my colleague and I were
question and my colleague and I were
question and my colleague and I were kind of puzzled we knew it we’d seen it
kind of puzzled we knew it we’d seen it
kind of puzzled we knew it we’d seen it many times we couldn’t quite remember
many times we couldn’t quite remember
many times we couldn’t quite remember exactly where it was and so this is a
exactly where it was and so this is a
exactly where it was and so this is a picture of my colleague he went back to
picture of my colleague he went back to
picture of my colleague he went back to his office and decided to look for the
his office and decided to look for the
his office and decided to look for the fire extinguisher and this is what he
fire extinguisher and this is what he
fire extinguisher and this is what he saw when he went back to his office how
saw when he went back to his office how
saw when he went back to his office how many of you see the fire extinguisher
many of you see the fire extinguisher
many of you see the fire extinguisher this is what there this is where it
this is what there this is where it
this is what there this is where it actually was he’d had this office for
actually was he’d had this office for
actually was he’d had this office for over 25 years and just stopped noticing
over 25 years and just stopped noticing
over 25 years and just stopped noticing it so this is the difference between
it so this is the difference between
it so this is the difference between seeing something and noticing it and
seeing something and noticing it and
seeing something and noticing it and sometimes
sometimes
sometimes the more experience we have the worse we
the more experience we have the worse we
the more experience we have the worse we are at remembering things like this and
are at remembering things like this and
are at remembering things like this and so we followed up on this we actually
so we followed up on this we actually
so we followed up on this we actually went to other people’s offices just to
went to other people’s offices just to
went to other people’s offices just to see maybe we were just strange and asked
see maybe we were just strange and asked
see maybe we were just strange and asked them if they knew where the nearest fire
them if they knew where the nearest fire
them if they knew where the nearest fire extinguisher was most people were kind
extinguisher was most people were kind
extinguisher was most people were kind of hesitant or puzzled and then instead
of hesitant or puzzled and then instead
of hesitant or puzzled and then instead of telling them where it was we asked
of telling them where it was we asked
of telling them where it was we asked them to go and find it and so they’d to
them to go and find it and so they’d to
them to go and find it and so they’d to get up out of their chair walk down the
get up out of their chair walk down the
get up out of their chair walk down the hall and point it out and oftentimes
hall and point it out and oftentimes
hall and point it out and oftentimes they’d missed the one that was right
they’d missed the one that was right
they’d missed the one that was right next to their office and so this failure
next to their office and so this failure
next to their office and so this failure to find something this failed retrieval
to find something this failed retrieval
to find something this failed retrieval then informs memory it reminds us of
then informs memory it reminds us of
then informs memory it reminds us of what we don’t know and then we followed
what we don’t know and then we followed
what we don’t know and then we followed up with these same individuals three
up with these same individuals three
up with these same individuals three months later we went back to their
months later we went back to their
months later we went back to their office and asked them where the nearest
office and asked them where the nearest
office and asked them where the nearest fire extinguisher was everybody knew
fire extinguisher was everybody knew
fire extinguisher was everybody knew because they failed the first time and
because they failed the first time and
because they failed the first time and they learned and this sort of learning
they learned and this sort of learning
they learned and this sort of learning becomes incredibly important failure can
becomes incredibly important failure can
becomes incredibly important failure can be a very potent and powerful learning
be a very potent and powerful learning
be a very potent and powerful learning event we often remember our failures yet
event we often remember our failures yet
event we often remember our failures yet we sometimes seek to avoid failure often
we sometimes seek to avoid failure often
we sometimes seek to avoid failure often my daughter’s will ask me to tell them
my daughter’s will ask me to tell them
my daughter’s will ask me to tell them stories at night and their favorite
stories at night and their favorite
stories at night and their favorite theme are mistakes I made when I was
theme are mistakes I made when I was
theme are mistakes I made when I was little they want to hear about my
little they want to hear about my
little they want to hear about my failures probably because they want to
failures probably because they want to
failures probably because they want to know what we shouldn’t do but they also
know what we shouldn’t do but they also
know what we shouldn’t do but they also want to know that sometimes it’s okay to
want to know that sometimes it’s okay to
want to know that sometimes it’s okay to make mistakes we all grow up and so
make mistakes we all grow up and so
make mistakes we all grow up and so their favorite story was when I was in
their favorite story was when I was in
their favorite story was when I was in the Wizard of Oz I was in grade four and
the Wizard of Oz I was in grade four and
the Wizard of Oz I was in grade four and I had a very important line in the play
I had a very important line in the play
I had a very important line in the play I was Uncle Henry you don’t remember
I was Uncle Henry you don’t remember
I was Uncle Henry you don’t remember Uncle Henry it’s because he only had one
Uncle Henry it’s because he only had one
Uncle Henry it’s because he only had one line in the play
line in the play
line in the play so I rehearse my line again and again
so I rehearse my line again and again
so I rehearse my line again and again and I really just need to say one line
and I really just need to say one line
and I really just need to say one line listen everyone there’s a cyclone on the
listen everyone there’s a cyclone on the
listen everyone there’s a cyclone on the way hurry and get into the cellar I
way hurry and get into the cellar I
way hurry and get into the cellar I thought it’s a very important line and
thought it’s a very important line and
thought it’s a very important line and so on opening night I burst on the stage
so on opening night I burst on the stage
so on opening night I burst on the stage and I said listen everyone there’s a
and I said listen everyone there’s a
and I said listen everyone there’s a cellar on the way hurry and get into the
cellar on the way hurry and get into the
cellar on the way hurry and get into the cyclone I’d memorize this line I knew
cyclone I’d memorize this line I knew
cyclone I’d memorize this line I knew this line and yet at the one time I had
this line and yet at the one time I had
this line and yet at the one time I had to deliver it I screwed up and my
to deliver it I screwed up and my
to deliver it I screwed up and my daughter’s love that story of course my
daughter’s love that story of course my
daughter’s love that story of course my son likes to hear stories more about how
son likes to hear stories more about how
son likes to hear stories more about how I break bones when I fall so he’s
I break bones when I fall so he’s
I break bones when I fall so he’s interested in other kinds of mistakes
interested in other kinds of mistakes
interested in other kinds of mistakes but it shows that children want to learn
but it shows that children want to learn
but it shows that children want to learn from mistakes and they want to know that
from mistakes and they want to know that
from mistakes and they want to know that it’s okay to make mistakes and
it’s okay to make mistakes and
it’s okay to make mistakes and oftentimes we experience anxiety when
oftentimes we experience anxiety when
oftentimes we experience anxiety when we’re gonna give a presentation when
we’re gonna give a presentation when
we’re gonna give a presentation when we’re gonna give it a test and this
we’re gonna give it a test and this
we’re gonna give it a test and this anxiety can influence how we perform we
anxiety can influence how we perform we
anxiety can influence how we perform we will often perform to expectations so
will often perform to expectations so
will often perform to expectations so when I talk about memory and Ageing and
when I talk about memory and Ageing and
when I talk about memory and Ageing and I talk to people who are over fifty
I talk to people who are over fifty
I talk to people who are over fifty sixty seventy and tell them we’re gonna
sixty seventy and tell them we’re gonna
sixty seventy and tell them we’re gonna give you a memory test that results in a
give you a memory test that results in a
give you a memory test that results in a certain amount of anxiety and that
certain amount of anxiety and that
certain amount of anxiety and that anxiety can lead to stereotype threat we
anxiety can lead to stereotype threat we
anxiety can lead to stereotype threat we perform as we think we should perform
perform as we think we should perform
perform as we think we should perform research has shown that if you take this
research has shown that if you take this
research has shown that if you take this same memory test and simply call it a
same memory test and simply call it a
same memory test and simply call it a wisdom test and then administer the same
wisdom test and then administer the same
wisdom test and then administer the same test older adults do better so just
test older adults do better so just
test older adults do better so just labeling the test in a different manner
labeling the test in a different manner
labeling the test in a different manner can empower people to do better and
can empower people to do better and
can empower people to do better and that’s why I think psychology is
that’s why I think psychology is
that’s why I think psychology is incredibly important now how many of you
incredibly important now how many of you
incredibly important now how many of you on the topic of memory and aging have
on the topic of memory and aging have
on the topic of memory and aging have had trouble remembering names anyone you
had trouble remembering names anyone you
had trouble remembering names anyone you know you know someone’s name or you’re
know you know someone’s name or you’re
know you know someone’s name or you’re trying to introduce them and then that
trying to introduce them and then that
trying to introduce them and then that name just slips from memory or you just
name just slips from memory or you just
name just slips from memory or you just heard that name and you can’t recall it
heard that name and you can’t recall it
heard that name and you can’t recall it and there’s good reasons why we actually
and there’s good reasons why we actually
and there’s good reasons why we actually don’t remember names
don’t remember names
don’t remember names maybe a hundred years ago mr. Barbour
maybe a hundred years ago mr. Barbour
maybe a hundred years ago mr. Barbour was actually a barber but today names
was actually a barber but today names
was actually a barber but today names are somewhat arbitrary and so I’m gonna
are somewhat arbitrary and so I’m gonna
are somewhat arbitrary and so I’m gonna give you some tricks to remember my name
give you some tricks to remember my name
give you some tricks to remember my name my name is Alan Castel and it rhymes
my name is Alan Castel and it rhymes
my name is Alan Castel and it rhymes with past Oh in fact my grandfather was
with past Oh in fact my grandfather was
with past Oh in fact my grandfather was a painter who used pastels so now you
a painter who used pastels so now you
a painter who used pastels so now you can incorporate my name with some
can incorporate my name with some
can incorporate my name with some thing you know already the concept of a
thing you know already the concept of a
thing you know already the concept of a painter Castel passed out or I can tell
painter Castel passed out or I can tell
painter Castel passed out or I can tell you it looks a lot like castle but you
you it looks a lot like castle but you
you it looks a lot like castle but you just switch the e in the L so it’s
just switch the e in the L so it’s
just switch the e in the L so it’s Castle illusion so now you’re doing
Castle illusion so now you’re doing
Castle illusion so now you’re doing something with the name to remember it
something with the name to remember it
something with the name to remember it and this sort of practice actually leads
and this sort of practice actually leads
and this sort of practice actually leads to good memory performance yet we rarely
to good memory performance yet we rarely
to good memory performance yet we rarely do it so when I give people these
do it so when I give people these
do it so when I give people these mnemonics to try and remember my name
mnemonics to try and remember my name
mnemonics to try and remember my name they say that really helped me dr.
they say that really helped me dr.
they say that really helped me dr. pastel so they’re using the mnemonic but
pastel so they’re using the mnemonic but
pastel so they’re using the mnemonic but sometimes they’re forgetting that you
sometimes they’re forgetting that you
sometimes they’re forgetting that you have to go one step further or they’re
have to go one step further or they’re
have to go one step further or they’re just playing games with me
just playing games with me
just playing games with me so I think what’s bit becomes important
so I think what’s bit becomes important
so I think what’s bit becomes important is not just remembering names but
is not just remembering names but
is not just remembering names but remembering what is the most important
remembering what is the most important
remembering what is the most important so to test this in our lab at UCLA we’ve
so to test this in our lab at UCLA we’ve
so to test this in our lab at UCLA we’ve used a paradigm where I’m going to
used a paradigm where I’m going to
used a paradigm where I’m going to present words with to you one at a time
present words with to you one at a time
present words with to you one at a time and each word is paired with a point
and each word is paired with a point
and each word is paired with a point value and the point value indicates how
value and the point value indicates how
value and the point value indicates how important it is to remember the word and
important it is to remember the word and
important it is to remember the word and this is much like a situation where
this is much like a situation where
this is much like a situation where we’re often overloaded with information
we’re often overloaded with information
we’re often overloaded with information and we need to kind of put our hands up
and we need to kind of put our hands up
and we need to kind of put our hands up and focus on what’s important we need to
and focus on what’s important we need to
and focus on what’s important we need to be selective
be selective
be selective so in this task I’m going to show you
so in this task I’m going to show you
so in this task I’m going to show you these words and they go by fairly
these words and they go by fairly
these words and they go by fairly quickly you won’t be able to remember
quickly you won’t be able to remember
quickly you won’t be able to remember all of them but in order to maximize
all of them but in order to maximize
all of them but in order to maximize your score you should focus on the words
your score you should focus on the words
your score you should focus on the words paired with the highest point value are
paired with the highest point value are
paired with the highest point value are you ready there’s going to be a memory
you ready there’s going to be a memory
you ready there’s going to be a memory test at the end after all the words are
test at the end after all the words are
test at the end after all the words are presented your job is just to recall as
presented your job is just to recall as
presented your job is just to recall as many words as you can in order to
many words as you can in order to
many words as you can in order to maximize your score are you ready
okay just recall as many words as you
okay just recall as many words as you can remember
excellent impressive so I hear a lot of
excellent impressive so I hear a lot of people saying ticket house pizza
people saying ticket house pizza
people saying ticket house pizza you might recall snow or guitar ticket
you might recall snow or guitar ticket
you might recall snow or guitar ticket house pizza were the highest value words
house pizza were the highest value words
house pizza were the highest value words the 12 11 and 10 and this is what we
the 12 11 and 10 and this is what we
the 12 11 and 10 and this is what we found this is the probability of
found this is the probability of
found this is the probability of recalling a word as a function of the
recalling a word as a function of the
recalling a word as a function of the point value and what we find are that
point value and what we find are that
point value and what we find are that both younger and older adults are
both younger and older adults are
both younger and older adults are sensitive to value these are younger
sensitive to value these are younger
sensitive to value these are younger college-age students and older adults
college-age students and older adults
college-age students and older adults over the age of 60 but what’s
over the age of 60 but what’s
over the age of 60 but what’s interesting is there’s no age-related
interesting is there’s no age-related
interesting is there’s no age-related difference for the higher value words in
difference for the higher value words in
difference for the higher value words in fact for the highest value words younger
fact for the highest value words younger
fact for the highest value words younger and older adults are doing just as well
and older adults are doing just as well
and older adults are doing just as well so this suggests that even as we get
so this suggests that even as we get
so this suggests that even as we get older we become selective even if our
older we become selective even if our
older we become selective even if our memory might not let us remember as much
memory might not let us remember as much
memory might not let us remember as much information we can selectively focus on
information we can selectively focus on
information we can selectively focus on what’s important of course in this task
what’s important of course in this task
what’s important of course in this task I told you what was important words
I told you what was important words
I told you what was important words paired with point values but in the real
paired with point values but in the real
paired with point values but in the real world we often do encounter important
world we often do encounter important
world we often do encounter important events that we need to remember
in fact sometimes it can help us survive
in fact sometimes it can help us survive and this sort of obsolete observation
and this sort of obsolete observation
and this sort of obsolete observation reminds me of my grandparents even in
reminds me of my grandparents even in
reminds me of my grandparents even in their 80s or 90s they sometimes confuse
their 80s or 90s they sometimes confuse
their 80s or 90s they sometimes confuse my name with my brother’s name but they
my name with my brother’s name but they
my name with my brother’s name but they would be able to recall the price of
would be able to recall the price of
would be able to recall the price of groceries and specifically groceries
groceries and specifically groceries
groceries and specifically groceries that were on sale they’d almost brag
that were on sale they’d almost brag
that were on sale they’d almost brag about how much bananas were even if they
about how much bananas were even if they
about how much bananas were even if they had to drive five miles across town to
had to drive five miles across town to
had to drive five miles across town to find them so we decided to test this in
find them so we decided to test this in
find them so we decided to test this in the lab and we presented people with
the lab and we presented people with
the lab and we presented people with grocery items in their prices and you
grocery items in their prices and you
grocery items in their prices and you can play along so your job is to
can play along so your job is to
can play along so your job is to remember the grocery item and the price
remember the grocery item and the price
remember the grocery item and the price for a later memory test but we also
for a later memory test but we also
for a later memory test but we also presented items like this overpriced
presented items like this overpriced
presented items like this overpriced items some you might have this reaction
items some you might have this reaction
items some you might have this reaction like oh where are these Whole Foods
like oh where are these Whole Foods
like oh where are these Whole Foods prices and then later we tested people
prices and then later we tested people
prices and then later we tested people so now recall the price of the
so now recall the price of the
so now recall the price of the cornflakes great now how about the price
cornflakes great now how about the price
cornflakes great now how about the price of the ice cream all right and some of
of the ice cream all right and some of
of the ice cream all right and some of you might recall $17 or that’s just too
you might recall $17 or that’s just too
you might recall $17 or that’s just too much and what we found is that younger
much and what we found is that younger
much and what we found is that younger people were better recalling the prices
people were better recalling the prices
people were better recalling the prices the overpriced items but older people
the overpriced items but older people
the overpriced items but older people were just as good if not better than the
were just as good if not better than the
were just as good if not better than the younger people at recalling the prices
younger people at recalling the prices
younger people at recalling the prices that made sense
that made sense
that made sense all right the prices that we experienced
all right the prices that we experienced
all right the prices that we experienced in the real world which suggests that as
in the real world which suggests that as
in the real world which suggests that as we get older we can use schemas or
we get older we can use schemas or
we get older we can use schemas or knowledge to remember new information of
knowledge to remember new information of
knowledge to remember new information of course we might not all be interested in
course we might not all be interested in
course we might not all be interested in the price of bananas or ice cream Albert
the price of bananas or ice cream Albert
the price of bananas or ice cream Albert Einstein once said I have no special
Einstein once said I have no special
Einstein once said I have no special talents I am only passionately curious
talents I am only passionately curious
talents I am only passionately curious and I think what becomes most important
and I think what becomes most important
and I think what becomes most important as we get older is to maintain high
as we get older is to maintain high
as we get older is to maintain high levels of curiosity we examine this in
levels of curiosity we examine this in
levels of curiosity we examine this in the lab by presenting people with trivia
the lab by presenting people with trivia
the lab by presenting people with trivia questions but before we told people the
questions but before we told people the
questions but before we told people the answer to the questions we asked them
answer to the questions we asked them
answer to the questions we asked them how curious they were to learn these
how curious they were to learn these
how curious they were to learn these questions and answers so for example
questions and answers so for example
questions and answers so for example what was the first consumer product to
what was the first consumer product to
what was the first consumer product to have a barcode you can think about that
have a barcode you can think about that
have a barcode you can think about that for a second and then on a scale of one
for a second and then on a scale of one
for a second and then on a scale of one to ten tell me how curious you are to
to ten tell me how curious you are to
to ten tell me how curious you are to learn that answer some of you might not
learn that answer some of you might not
learn that answer some of you might not care at all and some of you might be
care at all and some of you might be
care at all and some of you might be very passionately curious
very passionately curious
very passionately curious anyone want to provide a guess serious
anyone want to provide a guess serious
anyone want to provide a guess serious cigarettes ketchup beer alcohol it was
cigarettes ketchup beer alcohol it was
cigarettes ketchup beer alcohol it was actually Wrigley’s chewing gum okay so
actually Wrigley’s chewing gum okay so
actually Wrigley’s chewing gum okay so now we asked people to rate how curious
now we asked people to rate how curious
now we asked people to rate how curious they are to learn the answer let’s try
they are to learn the answer let’s try
they are to learn the answer let’s try this one what was the first nation to
this one what was the first nation to
this one what was the first nation to give a women the right to vote France
give a women the right to vote France
give a women the right to vote France Sweden now I ask you how curious are you
Sweden now I ask you how curious are you
Sweden now I ask you how curious are you to learn the answer on a scale of one to
to learn the answer on a scale of one to
to learn the answer on a scale of one to ten you know tell me the answer all
ten you know tell me the answer all
ten you know tell me the answer all right it was actually New Zealand okay
right it was actually New Zealand okay
right it was actually New Zealand okay we asked people to rate how curious they
we asked people to rate how curious they
we asked people to rate how curious they are now to learn that and then what we
are now to learn that and then what we
are now to learn that and then what we did is we surprised people a week later
did is we surprised people a week later
did is we surprised people a week later we called these younger and older adults
we called these younger and older adults
we called these younger and older adults who saw over a hundred trivia questions
who saw over a hundred trivia questions
who saw over a hundred trivia questions and we asked them the same questions and
and we asked them the same questions and
and we asked them the same questions and what we found is that it was only the
what we found is that it was only the
what we found is that it was only the older adults who remembered the
older adults who remembered the
older adults who remembered the questions that they found most
questions that they found most
questions that they found most interesting that they were most curious
interesting that they were most curious
interesting that they were most curious about which suggests that as we get
about which suggests that as we get
about which suggests that as we get older we might be more judicious about
older we might be more judicious about
older we might be more judicious about what we try and remember we don’t try
what we try and remember we don’t try
what we try and remember we don’t try and remember everything but we
and remember everything but we
and remember everything but we selectively focus on what’s important
selectively focus on what’s important
selectively focus on what’s important and so I think aging leads more to a
and so I think aging leads more to a
and so I think aging leads more to a change in focus instead of simply
change in focus instead of simply
change in focus instead of simply declines in memory and this change in
declines in memory and this change in
declines in memory and this change in focus can happen at different levels
focus can happen at different levels
focus can happen at different levels I’ve talked a little bit about the
I’ve talked a little bit about the
I’ve talked a little bit about the memory aspects but also in terms of
memory aspects but also in terms of
memory aspects but also in terms of emotion as we get older we focus on
emotion as we get older we focus on
emotion as we get older we focus on different emotions and work at Stanford
different emotions and work at Stanford
different emotions and work at Stanford University has looked at this positivity
University has looked at this positivity
University has looked at this positivity bias when you presented with these faces
bias when you presented with these faces
bias when you presented with these faces which one do you look at first which one
which one do you look at first which one
which one do you look at first which one do you spend the longest time looking at
do you spend the longest time looking at
do you spend the longest time looking at what they’ve shown is that while younger
what they’ve shown is that while younger
what they’ve shown is that while younger people will look at the faces on the
people will look at the faces on the
people will look at the faces on the right older people will spend more time
right older people will spend more time
right older people will spend more time looking at the happy face and this can
looking at the happy face and this can
looking at the happy face and this can influence memory in terms of what we
influence memory in terms of what we
influence memory in terms of what we recall it can also influence mood and it
recall it can also influence mood and it
recall it can also influence mood and it may be related to a surprising finding
may be related to a surprising finding
may be related to a surprising finding that healthy older adults actually are
that healthy older adults actually are
that healthy older adults actually are happier than college aged students
happier than college aged students
happier than college aged students contrary to many people’s expectations
contrary to many people’s expectations
contrary to many people’s expectations and stereotypes so this focus
and stereotypes so this focus
and stereotypes so this focus positivity may actually be adaptive and
positivity may actually be adaptive and
positivity may actually be adaptive and make us happier as we get older so at
make us happier as we get older so at
make us happier as we get older so at the beginning of the talk I mentioned
the beginning of the talk I mentioned
the beginning of the talk I mentioned how we’re often overwhelmed with
how we’re often overwhelmed with
how we’re often overwhelmed with information and I think the key to this
information and I think the key to this
information and I think the key to this is being able to provide a good summary
is being able to provide a good summary
is being able to provide a good summary the other day my daughter was watching a
the other day my daughter was watching a
the other day my daughter was watching a movie and I missed the first 10 minutes
movie and I missed the first 10 minutes
movie and I missed the first 10 minutes of the movie and so I asked her what did
of the movie and so I asked her what did
of the movie and so I asked her what did I miss and my daughter has a very good
I miss and my daughter has a very good
I miss and my daughter has a very good memory and she gives me a report about
memory and she gives me a report about
memory and she gives me a report about exactly what I missed the plot the
exactly what I missed the plot the
exactly what I missed the plot the character the music where the movies set
character the music where the movies set
character the music where the movies set it takes her about five minutes okay
it takes her about five minutes okay
it takes her about five minutes okay compare this to my wife we’ll miss the
compare this to my wife we’ll miss the
compare this to my wife we’ll miss the first 10 or 15 minutes of the movie and
first 10 or 15 minutes of the movie and
first 10 or 15 minutes of the movie and I asked her what did I miss and you know
I asked her what did I miss and you know
I asked her what did I miss and you know what her responses know nothing or
what her responses know nothing or
what her responses know nothing or she’ll give me a very quick summary
she’ll give me a very quick summary
she’ll give me a very quick summary because she has this awareness of what I
because she has this awareness of what I
because she has this awareness of what I need to know and what I’ll learn by
need to know and what I’ll learn by
need to know and what I’ll learn by watching the rest of the movie she
watching the rest of the movie she
watching the rest of the movie she doesn’t need to rely on her memory for
doesn’t need to rely on her memory for
doesn’t need to rely on her memory for what she’s seen she needs to be aware of
what she’s seen she needs to be aware of
what she’s seen she needs to be aware of what I need to know and I think this is
what I need to know and I think this is
what I need to know and I think this is something that might actually get better
something that might actually get better
something that might actually get better with age being able to communicate
with age being able to communicate
with age being able to communicate important information and sometimes
important information and sometimes
important information and sometimes forgetting the rest or letting people
forgetting the rest or letting people
forgetting the rest or letting people learn about what they need to know and
learn about what they need to know and
learn about what they need to know and so I think when we’re presented with a
so I think when we’re presented with a
so I think when we’re presented with a lot of information we don’t necessarily
lot of information we don’t necessarily
lot of information we don’t necessarily need to ignore things we need to distill
need to ignore things we need to distill
need to ignore things we need to distill it we need to take what’s important and
it we need to take what’s important and
it we need to take what’s important and communicate that to the people who are
communicate that to the people who are
communicate that to the people who are interested so if someone asks you how
interested so if someone asks you how
interested so if someone asks you how was your day you don’t tell them
was your day you don’t tell them
was your day you don’t tell them everything you did the entire day you
everything you did the entire day you
everything you did the entire day you communicate what becomes important if
communicate what becomes important if
communicate what becomes important if someone asked you how is that TED talk I
someone asked you how is that TED talk I
someone asked you how is that TED talk I missed it you wouldn’t give them the 18
missed it you wouldn’t give them the 18
missed it you wouldn’t give them the 18 or 20 minute version you’d try and give
or 20 minute version you’d try and give
or 20 minute version you’d try and give them one or two minutes summary and I
them one or two minutes summary and I
them one or two minutes summary and I think this is something that becomes
think this is something that becomes
think this is something that becomes better with age that we’re better at
better with age that we’re better at
better with age that we’re better at summarizing and communicating more
summarizing and communicating more
summarizing and communicating more effectively
effectively
effectively so to summarize as we get older we might
so to summarize as we get older we might
so to summarize as we get older we might make more memory mistakes but this can
make more memory mistakes but this can
make more memory mistakes but this can also lead to some form of adaptive
also lead to some form of adaptive
also lead to some form of adaptive selectivity we know what we know and we
selectivity we know what we know and we
selectivity we know what we know and we know what we don’t need to know and we
know what we don’t need to know and we
know what we don’t need to know and we can learn that forgetting is not
can learn that forgetting is not
can learn that forgetting is not necessarily a bad thing sometimes it’s
necessarily a bad thing sometimes it’s
necessarily a bad thing sometimes it’s good to forget information and focus on
good to forget information and focus on
good to forget information and focus on what is most important and I think with
what is most important and I think with
what is most important and I think with life experience
life experience
life experience we do this more often and this is what
we do this more often and this is what
we do this more often and this is what can allow us to get better with age
can allow us to get better with age
can allow us to get better with age thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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