Intelligent Memory Explained

Memory is much more than remembering dates, peoples' names, where you put things or upcoming events. Such routine mental activities are only a small part of our memory system. A much larger, and more important, kind of memory is the one that does our thinking for us. This is our Intelligent Memory.

Intelligent Memory is the mostly unconscious, lighting-fast thought process that connects pieces of memory and knowledge in order to generate new ideas. It's the memory that aids us in making everyday decisions, gives us the chuckle of a good joke, sparks a "Eureka!" solution to a problem, and enables us to enjoy a work of art. Intelligent Memory is what powers most of our mental life.

Our ordinary memory focuses on specifics, requires a great deal of mental energy, and generally plods along. It's not only slow, but has a limited capacity and, worse still, can deteriorate with age. It's what brings on your Senior Moments!

Meanwhile, Intelligent Memory works below our mental surface linking together individual experiences and pieces of information. And as you get older and add more experiences and knowledge, your Intelligent Memory grows stronger and faster.

Still confused? Here's how the two kinds of memory differ:

• Ordinary memory forgets your spouse's birthday - IM remembers what would be a great gift for him or her.
  
  
• Ordinary memory forgets the name of someone you encounter on the street -- IM remembers that his wife works for IBM and that he just returned from Italy. These clues lead to his name.
  
  
• Ordinary memory remembers that you have a doctor's appointment tomorrow - IM remembers to keep a "headache diary" so you remember to ask about treatment.

Intelligent Memory at work

Want to feel your Intelligent Memory at work? Look at this picture - notice anything distinctive?

If you immediately noticed the human foot, thank your Intelligent Memory. As you were looking at the picture, your Intelligent Memory quickly scanned it for familiar and unfamiliar shapes. When it recognized something out of the ordinary, it brought it to your attention. If you didn't see the human foot right off, then you may have had to look at the picture a bit longer and crank up images of elephants and feet from your ordinary memory in order to notice that something was amiss.