6. Crocodiles 2024

  I thought I was going to be an author when I was younger.      I had no idea where I felt this sudden spark of ambition, but six-year-old me kept cranking out stapled little booklets left and right. Writing these little stories helped distract me from the fact that I really had no true friends to have playdates with, my only “close” friend being a person that would always boss me around. The genres of these books would range from stories based on real events that would implement morals (since my life at the time consisted of many wild adventures with my family,) to a never-ending series of facts of an animal or certain color that I particularly enjoyed.       My most vivid memory involving this early passion for creating literature comes from a late spring afternoon in my first-grade classroom. Our only assignment that day was to be able to teach the entire class to do an activity that we genuinely enjoyed. Of course, with the only active hobby ...

 Are you Destroying Your Brain? You might be thinking of your screen time, hours of sleep, diet, or physical activity among many other bad habits—which I too suffer from like all of us—to be the culprit and answer to this question. I thought so too when reading the title to an article published by writer David Nield; however, the habits above were not the answers to his question—although they could be just as destructive in their own respectful right ( Source ). According to a new research conducted, it seems just “the process of remembering…long-term memories” seemingly comes at a “high cost” as it causes “massive inflammation within the brain”( Source ). The writer reports the swelling within the brain causes “DNA damage in the nerve cells” when a person attempts to recall memories which get “fused into neurons” when being “retrieved from storage”( Source ). Usually brain swelling is associated with “terrible neurological problems such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease”( Sou...

With cell phones so easily accessible, it's easier than ever to capture a photo of any moment. Because this has always been the case for many of us, we may not recognize what a valuable luxury this is: to be able to snapshot precious memories and preserve them clearly for years to come, and allow us to better share them with others down the line. Prior to the invention of photography, the only way to preserve realistic images of anything was through painting, which would naturally take hours upon hours to complete. While this was not a particularly big issue when it came to landscape paintings, this had major implications for what was possible for capturing the likeness of people. Because a person would have to remain in the same position for so long, only static poses were possible, and it was recommended that the subject not smile to prevent muscle discomfort or cramping. Additionally, having paintings made of themselves was not something that was accessible to the average person...

Memory serves as the cornerstone of our existence. By preserving our experiences, knowledge, and identity, it is what distinguishes the human race from the rest of life on Earth. But it turns out that memory fluctuates in strength across our lifetimes—it is inconstant in that it can improve as well as worsen. That’s no reason to worry, however, because there are a myriad of techniques that have been developed to enhance memory. The ancient art of mnemonics stands out as a timeless method that continues to captivate the imagination of memory enthusiasts and cognitive scientists alike. Imagine constructing a mental edifice—perhaps a mansion or a familiar street—and furnishing it with vivid, memorable imagery. Each room, corridor, or object within this mental construct serves as a repository for specific memories or information. When traversing your memory palace mentally, you activate spatial cues that trigger associated memories, facilitating effortless recall. The Paris Review Memory p...

I recently read a blog by one of our classmates, who was inspired by the television show Suits, about whether or not photographic memory is real. Suits is one of my favorite shows of all time and I have rewatched it four times. The student’s blog made me wonder why people rewatch shows when they know what will happen. There's a certain allure to revisiting the stories we know like the back of our hand, a comforting embrace in the form of familiar characters and plotlines. It's the reason why, despite the plethora of new content constantly vying for our attention, we find ourselves drawn back to the same beloved shows and movies time and time again. There is a “sense of security” in knowing what to expect, in immersing ourselves in a world where we are already aware of how the plot plays out ( Source ). Whether it's the cozy ambiance of a sitcom or the thrilling escapades of an action-packed series, rewatching allows us to rediscover the comfort of familiarity in an ever-ch...

Living a happy life is something most people strive to achieve, however, to achieve this people must learn to enjoy the present. Without this ability, they can not live a fulfilling life as they will never have a moment in their existence that they appreciate. Some might say they can look back on their memories with fondness, but what good is it to reminisce a memory filled with melancholy? Living in the moment would enable you to make the conscious decision to appreciate any situation you are put in, making every moment in your life a memory that you can look back on with gratitude. As someone who has not faced clinical anxiety or depression, I characterize anxiety as the state of being stifled with fear of the future and depression as being paralyzed by the regret of the past. These two are the stems of unhappiness for most people. Depression causes a person to lose faith in themselves and feel guilty about their actions, this affects a person’s ability to create a life they can be p...

(a picture of my friends in 2023 during basketball season) Lost In Time      Nostalgia has a unique ability to transport us back in time, evoking memories of days gone by and stirring emotions both familiar and bittersweet. It is a powerful force that weaves through the fabric of our lives, connecting us to our past and shaping our present. At its core, nostalgia is a longing for the past—a yearning to recapture the sights, sounds, and sensations of bygone days. It's that rush of emotion when we stumble upon an old photograph, hear a favorite song from our youth, or revisit a cherished childhood memory.      Nostalgia plays a crucial role in shaping our sense of identity by connecting us to our personal history, cultural heritage, and shared traditions. It also fosters a sense of connection and belonging by reminding us of the people and places that have shaped our lives. Sharing nostalgic memories with friends and loved ones can deepen our relationships an...

Reading one of the blogs from last week about photographic memory—which discussed whether it is actually possible for someone to have perfect memory—I began wondering about the literal meaning of the phrase.  The particular image that came to mind was a moment from last year when Lebron James broke the NBA record for all-time scoring. Scrolling through social media that day, one of the posts that I saw was a still shot of James in his motion, with the filled crowd visible in the background. The point of the post was to emphasize the numerous phones and cameras that were out to capture the historic moment.  I thought about how we have become accustomed to digital cameras in this golden age of technology. Especially with the advent of social media, photographs have become ubiquitous in modern society. Whenever we travel, experience a special moment, or simply witness an appealing view, we usually take out our phones and capture an image.   The social media post also p...

Using phones at a concert: Are they okay to use?     You’re attending your favorite artist’s concert, and you just so happened to purchase VIP tickets that placed you right in front of the ginormous confetti-filled stage. You start to see your idol confidently strut their way to a microphone, ready to let a series of enchanting melodies flow from their mouth and fly outward into the stadium with an energetic burst. You pull your phone out of your back pocket and immediately search for the camera app to record this unbelievable moment. The sea of people behind you—who are just as excited—eagerly do the same.  From the artist’s perspective, the stadium that was once filled with starlit eyes transformed into the flashy eyes of a phone rear camera, the light almost blinding them entirely. They feel the need to address something important, but just as you see them open their mouth to breathe out the first note, you excitedly press the red record button and- “Can you please p...

Is Photographic Memory Real? Over the weekend I was, after multiple pleas and asks from a family friend, to watch at least one season of Suits.  Although I do enjoy a good TV show, I personally was hesitant to watch overdramatized media; however, I was forced to keep my end of the promise. While beginning the series, I reached the iconic scene which epitomizes the show: when Mike Ross claims to have memorized all Barbi: Law  books, and he subsequently recites an entire verse from the choosing of his future boss Harvey Specter. This scene made me wonder. Is it possible to have photographic memory like Mike Ross? And can someone train themselves to bolster their photographic memory? Source My first instinct was to turn to Google and attempt the quintessential, clickbait, online survey which seems to be able to tell a person about any of their animating desires. I took the first survey I found; needless to say I failed and do not possess photographic memory, at least according to...

Perhaps you've heard of the "Doorway Effect." Chances are, even if you haven't, you've experienced it at least once in your life. The supposed doorway effect occurs when people forget things after walking through a doorway. For example, you might get up to grab a glass of water, only to forget what you got up to do after passing through the doorway out your room. Image from  Ms. Lennon's Blog According to Bond University , the idea originates from a 2011 study by researchers at the University of Notre Dame, in which they found that people were more likely to forget things after passing through doorways. They theorized that the brain had a tendency to erase those memories after passing through a threshold, as it believed that those memories were less likely to be relevant in the new context. However, more recent research has found that the doorway effect is not as simple or pronounced as previously thought. Researchers at Bond University attempted to replicate ...

When we returned to school (unfortunately) from spring break on Monday, I heard from several of my peers that they had forgotten much of the content they had learned before the break. Since many students did minimal studying during breaks—which is understandable because breaks are intended to offer a respite from work—they tended to forget a substantial amount of information.   This got me thinking about an assignment that I did back in fifth grade. We were paired up with another student and were tasked with producing a debate over a certain topic. Within each pair, we took opposing sides of the debate and had to write an argumentative essay as well as create a slideshow to prove that our side was better than the other. For me and my partner, we debated the traditional school calendar versus the year-round school calendar, with me arguing the latter.  Year-round school has a different calendar for the school year that contains shorter and more frequent breaks but runs thr...

 Faulty Familiarity Simply Psychology      Despite our confidence in the accuracy of our recollections, false memories demonstrate the imperfections of the brain's cognitive processes.      Firstly, false memories are the recollection of an event that never actually occurred. For example, when we misremember false details about a past event, believe false information received by others, or reminiscing about circumstances that never really took place. Although the topic itself is curious and intriguing, these memories can have an immense negative influence on our decision-making, relationships, and personal narratives.      When it comes to making a decision, our memories can lead us to be decisive based on inaccurate information or perceptions of past events. If an individual falsely remembers a negative experience with a certain product or service, they may choose to avoid the brand or company moving forward, impacti...

When we use our working memory, we temporarily save information in our brain. As such, you are only able to comprehend this sentence because you briefly store each word into working memory before stringing them together into a sentence and creating meaning. Now, although the importance of working memory is uncontroversial, the “neurological machinations” driving this process are less evident. A team of researchers at New York University (NYU) has demonstrated that working memory relies not only on “what one is storing in memory but also why.” Sharamand NYU Professor of Psychology Clayton Curtis explains that our visual memory is actually the product of significant neuronal processing—neural codes in the occipital lobe “dynamically evolve” to “incorporate how you intend to use those memories.” Suppose a friend of yours shares their email address with you—the only caveat is that they showed it to you on their phone for only a few seconds. Your brain not only wires a raw visual image o...

Year after year, my family's winter retreat to Lake Tahoe served as a cherished tradition—an escape to the slopes for a week of skiing and snowboarding. However, amidst the beautiful landscapes and adrenaline-fueled adventures, one particular incident remains ingrained in memory. In the midst of a routine ski class, positioned at the end of the line, I embarked on a descent down the mountain with fervor and determination, practicing sharp turns and small jumps. However, midway down the slope, my skis betrayed me, and I face-planted into the snow. When picking myself up, I noticed that I was all alone because my instructor and fellow peers never noticed I fell and left me stranded. Just when I was about to give in to despair, another ski class approached who helped me and allowed me to join their class down the mountain. As we made our way down together, I was struck by their kindness and camaraderie with a blend of anger and betrayal towards my own instructor. Although I would con...

Have you ever noticed that memories often have the power to cause you to remember an experience you had in a better light? Let me clarify. You haven't been to school all summer and you are somewhat excited to go to school again, however, within a couple of weeks this excitement ends and you realize you are back to keeping up with assignments and losing sleep. Another example, you get a really bad haircut and cannot wait for your hair to grow back, but once it grows back you barely notice it. How can your memory alter your perception of something so dramatically? Is it because we are never content with the present? Or because we can use our imagination to sculpt how our past experiences played out today to our liking? But with this ability to modify our perception of the past, comes a downside. How many times have you been stifled into inaction because of an experience? An example of this is PTSD, after a traumatic event people often refrain from putting themselves in situations tha...