Want a Healthier Mind? Fuggedaboutit!
Category: Science...
Posted Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 07:52 AM [GMT-6]

I'm greatly encouraged by this article in the Wall Street Journal which reports that neuroscientists have determined that the ability to forget things is crucial to "the efficient functioning of the mind." If that is indeed the case, my brain is the epitome of a lean, mean thinking machine.

I think we've all jokingly justified our forgetfulness as a necessary "cleaning out of the closet" in order to remember more important things (such as where, exactly, we stored those cute little Christmas gifts purchased during a summertime shopping trip, when we were so proud of our thoughtful efficiency). As it turns out, that's exactly the case. From the article:

Indeed, the ability to recall everything is more of a curse than a blessing. For proof, look no further than Jill Price, who has documented her dwelling in a mental hell in the book The Woman Who Can't Forget: The Extraordinary Story of Living with the Most Remarkable Memory Known to Science. (This book was, incidentally, among the first purchased and downloaded onto MLB's new Kindle last summer. I'm sure the memory of that event will eventually crowd out my recollection of where I left my car keys.) Ms. Price's situation is as sad as it is remarkable. She has a photographic memory, which at first glance sounds like a good thing. I'd love never forgetting a phone number or appointment or birthday. But Ms. Price also cannot control her memories. She has no filter, and 30 year old memories are as vivid today as the actual events. Imagine not being able to forget the painful things that happened in your life.

So, while not remembering everything can have its downsides, I can take comfort in knowing that my forgetfulness is really just my brain exercising its self-awareness and performing preventive maintenance.

There's was one other important point I intended to make when I started this post, but I seem to have, you know, forgotten it. Thanks a lot, brain.

I was going to quip that I have a photographic memory, but it just hasn't yet developed. But I realize that even during the ancient era of non-digital photography, it wasn't that funny.