In this enlightening episode of “OK. Now you know,” host Joe Garner delves into the fascinating world of memory. Joe intricately explains the processes involved in how we acquire, store, and retrieve information, underlining memory’s critical role in our daily lives. This episode explores the essence of memory, highlighting its dynamic nature and its impact on learning, problem-solving, and planning.

Our journey begins with memory encoding—the initial stage where our brain takes in information through perception and filters it for storage. Joe also distinguishes between short-term memory (working memory) and long-term memory, likening short-term memory to a computer’s RAM and describing long-term memory as a vast network of neuron connections. He breaks down the often challenging phase of retrieval, offering insights into why memories can sometimes be elusive. Joe elaborates on intriguing phenomena like the doorway effect, revealing the delicate interplay between our environmental cues and memory.