imagine a hospital room in the corner there is a bed and in that bed there is
there is a bed and in that bed there is
there is a bed and in that bed there is a young woman she’s lying flat on her
a young woman she’s lying flat on her
a young woman she’s lying flat on her back there are tubes coming out of her
back there are tubes coming out of her
back there are tubes coming out of her veins there’s a cuff on her arm and
veins there’s a cuff on her arm and
veins there’s a cuff on her arm and there are little colored stickers across
there are little colored stickers across
there are little colored stickers across her chest she’s broken her back and her
her chest she’s broken her back and her
her chest she’s broken her back and her neck in almost ten places and there’s a
neck in almost ten places and there’s a
neck in almost ten places and there’s a piece of bone that’s sticking out in
piece of bone that’s sticking out in
piece of bone that’s sticking out in such a way that if she moves she could
such a way that if she moves she could
such a way that if she moves she could cut a nerve and be unable to walk again
cut a nerve and be unable to walk again
cut a nerve and be unable to walk again and her treatment her treatment is to
and her treatment her treatment is to
and her treatment her treatment is to lie still and be in hospital for almost
lie still and be in hospital for almost
lie still and be in hospital for almost two months that’s a long time to think
two months that’s a long time to think
two months that’s a long time to think it’s a long time to remember things and
it’s a long time to remember things and
it’s a long time to remember things and let’s be honest many people these days
let’s be honest many people these days
let’s be honest many people these days don’t like being alone with their own
don’t like being alone with their own
don’t like being alone with their own mind for more than a couple of minutes
mind for more than a couple of minutes
mind for more than a couple of minutes I’m a doctor I studied medicine at
I’m a doctor I studied medicine at
I’m a doctor I studied medicine at Oxford and my postgraduate studies are
Oxford and my postgraduate studies are
Oxford and my postgraduate studies are in neuroscience and I’m very interested
in neuroscience and I’m very interested
in neuroscience and I’m very interested in well-being and in how we can use our
in well-being and in how we can use our
in well-being and in how we can use our memory to help this and I’ll return to
memory to help this and I’ll return to
memory to help this and I’ll return to this girl a bit later on so every day we
this girl a bit later on so every day we
this girl a bit later on so every day we remember things we remember who we are
remember things we remember who we are
remember things we remember who we are how we get to work hopefully how we get
how we get to work hopefully how we get
how we get to work hopefully how we get home again that we get nervous when we
home again that we get nervous when we
home again that we get nervous when we talk in front of big groups of people
talk in front of big groups of people
talk in front of big groups of people and so with our memories we have this
and so with our memories we have this
and so with our memories we have this incredible ability to hold on to events
incredible ability to hold on to events
incredible ability to hold on to events onto skills and on to experiences from
onto skills and on to experiences from
onto skills and on to experiences from our past and yet despite memory being
our past and yet despite memory being
our past and yet despite memory being such a key part of our identity and of
such a key part of our identity and of
such a key part of our identity and of our daily life there’s still a lot that
our daily life there’s still a lot that
our daily life there’s still a lot that we don’t know about it we do know some
we don’t know about it we do know some
we don’t know about it we do know some things obviously we know that memory is
things obviously we know that memory is
things obviously we know that memory is complex so imagine that I am a single
complex so imagine that I am a single
complex so imagine that I am a single nerve cell called a neuron a bit like
nerve cell called a neuron a bit like
nerve cell called a neuron a bit like this very scientific looking diagram
this very scientific looking diagram
this very scientific looking diagram behind me and imagine that I have enough
behind me and imagine that I have enough
behind me and imagine that I have enough projections to reach out and touch every
projections to reach out and touch every
projections to reach out and touch every single person in this room here today so
single person in this room here today so
single person in this room here today so that’s about a thousand people
that’s about a thousand people
that’s about a thousand people so times this by fifty fifty thousand
so times this by fifty fifty thousand
so times this by fifty fifty thousand people that’s enough people to fill an
people that’s enough people to fill an
people that’s enough people to fill an entire Olympic sized stadium and I can
entire Olympic sized stadium and I can
entire Olympic sized stadium and I can be in contact with each and every person
be in contact with each and every person
be in contact with each and every person all at the same time if I want to and
all at the same time if I want to and
all at the same time if I want to and now imagine that there are more of us
now imagine that there are more of us
now imagine that there are more of us than there are stars in the Milky Way
than there are stars in the Milky Way
than there are stars in the Milky Way and this starts to give us some kind of
and this starts to give us some kind of
and this starts to give us some kind of an understanding of the complexity of
an understanding of the complexity of
an understanding of the complexity of the human brain so each of us have 100
the human brain so each of us have 100
the human brain so each of us have 100 billion neurons in our brain and each of
billion neurons in our brain and each of
billion neurons in our brain and each of these neurons can have up to 50,000
these neurons can have up to 50,000
these neurons can have up to 50,000 connections and with these connections
connections and with these connections
connections and with these connections the ones that we use the most will they
the ones that we use the most will they
the ones that we use the most will they become easier to use the connections
become easier to use the connections
become easier to use the connections that fire together wire together in a
that fire together wire together in a
that fire together wire together in a way called plasticity so there are
way called plasticity so there are
way called plasticity so there are actually structural changes that happen
actually structural changes that happen
actually structural changes that happen in your brain in response to how you use
in your brain in response to how you use
in your brain in response to how you use it now you might be aware that quite a
it now you might be aware that quite a
it now you might be aware that quite a lot of words in medicine are in that
lot of words in medicine are in that
lot of words in medicine are in that popularly spoken language of Latin you
popularly spoken language of Latin you
popularly spoken language of Latin you might not be aware as to why the reason
might not be aware as to why the reason
might not be aware as to why the reason for this is that if the words are
for this is that if the words are
for this is that if the words are translated out of Latin they all start
translated out of Latin they all start
translated out of Latin they all start to sound like they belong in a
to sound like they belong in a
to sound like they belong in a children’s storybook so instead of a
children’s storybook so instead of a
children’s storybook so instead of a very academic and serious sounding
very academic and serious sounding
very academic and serious sounding conversation about memory involving the
conversation about memory involving the
conversation about memory involving the amygdala and the hippocampus it becomes
amygdala and the hippocampus it becomes
amygdala and the hippocampus it becomes a story about memory involving that
a story about memory involving that
a story about memory involving that almond and the seahorse so firstly the
almond and the seahorse so firstly the
almond and the seahorse so firstly the almond or in Latin this is the amygdala
almond or in Latin this is the amygdala
almond or in Latin this is the amygdala these are two small areas in our brain
these are two small areas in our brain
these are two small areas in our brain about the size and shape of almond nuts
about the size and shape of almond nuts
about the size and shape of almond nuts and these areas are very important for
and these areas are very important for
and these areas are very important for processing emotions such as fear and
processing emotions such as fear and
processing emotions such as fear and anxiety they’re also very important for
anxiety they’re also very important for
anxiety they’re also very important for emotional memories memories that are
emotional memories memories that are
emotional memories memories that are emotionally arousing and interestingly
emotionally arousing and interestingly
emotionally arousing and interestingly if you have damage in this area of your
if you have damage in this area of your
if you have damage in this area of your brain you might struggle to recognize
brain you might struggle to recognize
brain you might struggle to recognize emotions in someone else’s face either
emotions in someone else’s face either
emotions in someone else’s face either that or they’ve just had a bit too much
that or they’ve just had a bit too much
that or they’ve just had a bit too much Botox
and another area of the brain there is
and another area of the brain there is very important for memory is the
very important for memory is the
very important for memory is the seahorse so in Latin this is the
seahorse so in Latin this is the
seahorse so in Latin this is the hippocampus again we have two of these
hippocampus again we have two of these
hippocampus again we have two of these areas and they look like seahorses when
areas and they look like seahorses when
areas and they look like seahorses when they’re forming this part of the brain
they’re forming this part of the brain
they’re forming this part of the brain is very important for long-term memory
is very important for long-term memory
is very important for long-term memory and for skills such as navigation and
and for skills such as navigation and
and for skills such as navigation and there are some interesting studies
there are some interesting studies
there are some interesting studies looking at this seahorse area in London
looking at this seahorse area in London
looking at this seahorse area in London taxi drivers when a taxi driver even
taxi drivers when a taxi driver even
taxi drivers when a taxi driver even just imagines driving a certain route
just imagines driving a certain route
just imagines driving a certain route there’s an increase in activity in this
there’s an increase in activity in this
there’s an increase in activity in this area and there’s also an increase in
area and there’s also an increase in
area and there’s also an increase in size in this area in the drivers versus
size in this area in the drivers versus
size in this area in the drivers versus the non drivers with this increase in
the non drivers with this increase in
the non drivers with this increase in size corresponding to how long they’ve
size corresponding to how long they’ve
size corresponding to how long they’ve been driving for this seahorse area also
been driving for this seahorse area also
been driving for this seahorse area also has the highest sensitivity to the
has the highest sensitivity to the
has the highest sensitivity to the stress hormone cortisol meaning that the
stress hormone cortisol meaning that the
stress hormone cortisol meaning that the seahorse is highly vulnerable to stress
now many people assume that memory is
now many people assume that memory is like a recording that it’s recorded at
like a recording that it’s recorded at
like a recording that it’s recorded at the time and then played back to us
the time and then played back to us
the time and then played back to us later when we want to remember something
later when we want to remember something
later when we want to remember something a bit like watching a film but memory is
a bit like watching a film but memory is
a bit like watching a film but memory is actually more like a film set than a
actually more like a film set than a
actually more like a film set than a finished film
finished film
finished film it’s a reconstructive process the
it’s a reconstructive process the
it’s a reconstructive process the lighting and the action need to be
lighting and the action need to be
lighting and the action need to be created and in fact there are studies
created and in fact there are studies
created and in fact there are studies showing that we actually need to make
showing that we actually need to make
showing that we actually need to make certain proteins in order to make and
certain proteins in order to make and
certain proteins in order to make and keep our long-term memories if you
keep our long-term memories if you
keep our long-term memories if you interfere with the protein you interfere
interfere with the protein you interfere
interfere with the protein you interfere with the memory and people also often
with the memory and people also often
with the memory and people also often assume that memory is accurate
assume that memory is accurate
assume that memory is accurate particularly for strong memories and
particularly for strong memories and
particularly for strong memories and what could be stronger than witnessing a
what could be stronger than witnessing a
what could be stronger than witnessing a crime but we know that eyewitness
crime but we know that eyewitness
crime but we know that eyewitness evidence is often incorrect particularly
evidence is often incorrect particularly
evidence is often incorrect particularly if there is DNA evidence to the contrary
if there is DNA evidence to the contrary
if there is DNA evidence to the contrary and some judges are even starting to
and some judges are even starting to
and some judges are even starting to brief jury panels about the inaccuracies
brief jury panels about the inaccuracies
brief jury panels about the inaccuracies if this type of eyewitness evidence so
if this type of eyewitness evidence so
if this type of eyewitness evidence so the fact that memory can have
the fact that memory can have
the fact that memory can have is obviously important in court cases
is obviously important in court cases
is obviously important in court cases and this is starting to be formally
and this is starting to be formally
and this is starting to be formally recognized in some places but how does
recognized in some places but how does
recognized in some places but how does this help us with our well-being or with
this help us with our well-being or with
this help us with our well-being or with our daily lives if we question the
our daily lives if we question the
our daily lives if we question the accuracy of eyewitness statements told
accuracy of eyewitness statements told
accuracy of eyewitness statements told about a crime to a courtroom we should
about a crime to a courtroom we should
about a crime to a courtroom we should question our own memories too because
question our own memories too because
question our own memories too because these are like the eyewitness statements
these are like the eyewitness statements
these are like the eyewitness statements told about our lives to ourselves we
told about our lives to ourselves we
told about our lives to ourselves we should look at what memories benefit our
should look at what memories benefit our
should look at what memories benefit our well-being and which ones don’t as
well-being and which ones don’t as
well-being and which ones don’t as there’s a chance that they’re not 100%
there’s a chance that they’re not 100%
there’s a chance that they’re not 100% accurate anyway
accurate anyway
accurate anyway and I obviously don’t mean questioning
and I obviously don’t mean questioning
and I obviously don’t mean questioning your name or how you get to work or the
your name or how you get to work or the
your name or how you get to work or the happy memories that you cherish I also
happy memories that you cherish I also
happy memories that you cherish I also don’t mean questioning that certain
don’t mean questioning that certain
don’t mean questioning that certain events have happened but I do mean
events have happened but I do mean
events have happened but I do mean looking at some of the memories that pop
looking at some of the memories that pop
looking at some of the memories that pop into your head from time to time the the
into your head from time to time the the
into your head from time to time the the ones that weigh you down
ones that weigh you down
ones that weigh you down the ones that don’t help your well-being
the ones that don’t help your well-being
the ones that don’t help your well-being the ones that were often formed under
the ones that were often formed under
the ones that were often formed under stress remembering that the seahorse is
stress remembering that the seahorse is
stress remembering that the seahorse is highly sensitive to stress now of course
highly sensitive to stress now of course
highly sensitive to stress now of course we have some memories that are important
we have some memories that are important
we have some memories that are important for our survival we remember that it
for our survival we remember that it
for our survival we remember that it hurt to touch the fire so we don’t do it
hurt to touch the fire so we don’t do it
hurt to touch the fire so we don’t do it again and this fear of public speaking
again and this fear of public speaking
again and this fear of public speaking is linked to a fear of being judged if
is linked to a fear of being judged if
is linked to a fear of being judged if we were judged we might be rejected and
we were judged we might be rejected and
we were judged we might be rejected and if we’re rejected from our social groups
if we’re rejected from our social groups
if we’re rejected from our social groups well this obviously makes survival more
well this obviously makes survival more
well this obviously makes survival more difficult but as a doctor I often see
difficult but as a doctor I often see
difficult but as a doctor I often see how memory impacts on well-being and
how memory impacts on well-being and
how memory impacts on well-being and studying the neuroscience behind it is
studying the neuroscience behind it is
studying the neuroscience behind it is giving me some answers as to why but
giving me some answers as to why but
giving me some answers as to why but it’s also raising many more questions
it’s also raising many more questions
it’s also raising many more questions but in a practical sense I think I
but in a practical sense I think I
but in a practical sense I think I learned the most when I was that young
learned the most when I was that young
learned the most when I was that young woman from the start of today lying in
woman from the start of today lying in
woman from the start of today lying in that hospital bed looking at that
that hospital bed looking at that
that hospital bed looking at that ceiling only last year
evidence shows that memories that are
evidence shows that memories that are formed with a negative tone or a past
formed with a negative tone or a past
formed with a negative tone or a past focus are associated with increased
focus are associated with increased
focus are associated with increased levels of cortisol and cortisol a stress
levels of cortisol and cortisol a stress
levels of cortisol and cortisol a stress hormone has a lot of really important
hormone has a lot of really important
hormone has a lot of really important roles in our body but if we have too
roles in our body but if we have too
roles in our body but if we have too much of it at levels that are too high
much of it at levels that are too high
much of it at levels that are too high for too long it can start to interfere
for too long it can start to interfere
for too long it can start to interfere with things such as our immune system
with things such as our immune system
with things such as our immune system this can lead to decreased wound healing
this can lead to decreased wound healing
this can lead to decreased wound healing and decreased bone healing and you might
and decreased bone healing and you might
and decreased bone healing and you might agree I had quite a few bones to heal
agree I had quite a few bones to heal
agree I had quite a few bones to heal and I really wanted to get well as
and I really wanted to get well as
and I really wanted to get well as quickly as possible so I started to look
quickly as possible so I started to look
quickly as possible so I started to look at just some of the memories that popped
at just some of the memories that popped
at just some of the memories that popped into my head whilst I was lying there
into my head whilst I was lying there
into my head whilst I was lying there the ones that didn’t necessarily help my
the ones that didn’t necessarily help my
the ones that didn’t necessarily help my well-being with just a hint of
well-being with just a hint of
well-being with just a hint of skepticism think of the children’s game
skepticism think of the children’s game
skepticism think of the children’s game whispers children sit in a circle one
whispers children sit in a circle one
whispers children sit in a circle one makes up something to say and passes it
makes up something to say and passes it
makes up something to say and passes it to the next they pass it around the
to the next they pass it around the
to the next they pass it around the circle in this fashion until the last
circle in this fashion until the last
circle in this fashion until the last child stands up and says what it is that
child stands up and says what it is that
child stands up and says what it is that they’ve heard it’s normally pretty
they’ve heard it’s normally pretty
they’ve heard it’s normally pretty different to what it started out as I
different to what it started out as I
different to what it started out as I think of recreating a scene from a film
think of recreating a scene from a film
think of recreating a scene from a film each time the lighting is just a little
each time the lighting is just a little
each time the lighting is just a little bit different the shadows are just a
bit different the shadows are just a
bit different the shadows are just a little bit different something that was
little bit different something that was
little bit different something that was light and funny could after enough
light and funny could after enough
light and funny could after enough recreations be be made into something
recreations be be made into something
recreations be be made into something that’s quite dark but the reverse is
that’s quite dark but the reverse is
that’s quite dark but the reverse is true – something that was dark well that
true – something that was dark well that
true – something that was dark well that could be lightened up so what if we
could be lightened up so what if we
could be lightened up so what if we cross-examined just some of the memories
cross-examined just some of the memories
cross-examined just some of the memories that hold us down questioned their
that hold us down questioned their
that hold us down questioned their accuracy and the happy memories the ones
accuracy and the happy memories the ones
accuracy and the happy memories the ones that promote our well-being well they
that promote our well-being well they
that promote our well-being well they deserve to be treasured thank you
deserve to be treasured thank you
deserve to be treasured thank you [Applause]
”
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