Understanding Memory: Explaining the Psychology of Memory through Movies

Wesleyan University

Acerca de este Curso

Welcome to Understanding Memory. Someone once said that memory is fascinating because sometimes we forget what we want to remember, sometimes we remember what we want to forget, and sometimes we remember events that never happened or never happened the way we remember them. I want to show you how memory works, why it sometimes fails, and what we can do to enhance it. Based on my recent book – Memory and Movies: What Films Can Teach Us About Memory (MIT Press, 2015) – I will provide an introduction to the scientific study of human memory by focusing on a select group of topics that hold widespread appeal. To facilitate your understanding, I will use clips from numerous films to illustrate different aspects of memory – describing what has been learned about memory in a nontechnical way for people with no prior background in psychology. Many of us love watching movies because they offer an unparalleled opportunity for entertainment, even if entertaining films are not always scientifically accurate. Still, I believe that we can learn a lot about memory from popular films, if we watch them with an educated eye. Welcome once more. I am looking forward to showing you what movies can teach us about memory. John Seamon Professor of Psychology Emeritus Wesleyan University

Curso 100 % en línea

Comienza de inmediato y aprende a tu propio ritmo.

Aprox. 9 horas para completar

Sugerido: 5 weeks of study, 1-2 hours/week

English

Subtítulos: English, Chinese (Simplified), Greek, Korean, Spanish

Curso 100 % en línea

Comienza de inmediato y aprende a tu propio ritmo.

Aprox. 9 horas para completar

Sugerido: 5 weeks of study, 1-2 hours/week

English

Subtítulos: English, Chinese (Simplified), Greek, Korean, Spanish

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

1

Section

1 hour to complete

Memory Processes and Memory Movies

Human memory involves a collection of systems that enable us to remember the past and imagine the future. Films can enhance our understanding of memory by telling us stories about people, illustrating how their present was shaped by their past and how, by watching their stories, we might navigate similar situations in our future....

5 videos (Total 38 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

5 videos

Preview: Welcome to Memory and Movies1m

Lecture 1: Sometimes Life Imitates Art - Film: 50 First Dates6m

Lecture 2: What is Memory? - Film: Finding Nemo10m

Lecture 3: Memory's Everyday Function13m

Lecture 4: Using Films to Tell Stories About Memory - Film: The Princess Bride5m

1 readings

Suggested Readings for Module 1 (optional)10m

1 practice exercises

Memory Processes and Memory Films28m

2

Section

2 hours to complete

Making Long Lasting Memories

Memory’s main purpose is to facilitate future thinking. But to plan successful future actions, effective strategies for learning and retention are needed. Some strategies are highly effective for producing long lasting memories, others are not....

6 videos (Total 76 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

6 videos

Lecture 5: A Memory Worth Keeping - Film: After Life5m

Lecture 6: Creating Long Lasting Memories - Film: Cast Away20m

Lecture 7: Facing the Future by Looking Backward - Film: Groundhog Day9m

Lecture 8: Different Ways of Remembering - Film: Crash11m

Lecture 9: Where Do We Keep Our Memories - Film: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind10m

Lecture 10: Memory Champs, Mnemonics, and Savants - Movie: Rain Man17m

1 readings

Suggested Readings for Module 2 (optional)10m

1 practice exercises

Making Memories that Last28m

3

Section

2 hours to complete

Autobiographical Memories and Life Stories

Each of us has a life story based on our personal experiences. These autobiographical memories define us and make us unique. But in telling our life story, we have reconstructed a personal narrative, much like a memoir writer. These recollections are generally accurate, but our memories are never a perfect record of the past. ...

6 videos (Total 65 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

6 videos

Lecture 11: Narrative Flashbacks - Film: The Kite Runner7m

Lecture 12: Tell Me a Story About You - Film: Slumdog Millionaire12m

Lecture 13: Emotion, Empathy, and Movies - Film: Cinema Paradiso: The New Version12m

Lecture 14: Distant Memories - Film: Titanic13m

Lecture 15: Unforgettable Moments - Film: Unchained Memories: The Slave Narratives10m

Lecture 16: Remember Me - Film: The Joy Luck Club7m

1 readings

Suggested Readings for Module 3 (optional)10m

1 practice exercises

Autobiographical Memories and Life Stories28m

4

Section

2 hours to complete

Understanding the Reality of Amnesia

Amnesia has often been portrayed in film as resulting from a bump on the head and cured by another head bonk. In real life, amnesia can follow physical or emotional trauma, it may be temporary or permanent, and if it resolves, it is never from another blow to the head....

5 videos (Total 66 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

5 videos

Lecture 17: Where Am I? - Film: Desperately Seeking Susan9m

Lecture 18: Organic Amnesia from Brain Injuries - Film: The Music Never Stopped16m

Lecture 19: Lost and Found Memories: Dissociative Amnesia - Film: The Return of the Soldier12m

Lecture 20: Lost and Found Memories: Dissociative Fugue - Film: The Majestic11m

Lecture 21: Memory's Most Studied Mind - Film: Memento15m

1 readings

Suggested Readings for Module 4 (optional)10m

1 practice exercises

Understanding the Reality of Amnesia28m

5

Section

2 hours to complete

Senior Moments, Forgetfulness, and Dementia

Changes in memory can occur as we get older. Some changes are normal, whereas others might signal the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. Memory loss is worrisome, but there are effective ways to help maintain memory function as we age. ...

5 videos (Total 80 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

5 videos

Lecture 22: My Memory Isn't What It Used to Be - Film: Cocoon8m

Lecture 23: A Troubling Turn: Mild Cognitive Impairment - Film: On Golden Pond20m

Lecture 24: Strokes and Vascular Dementia - Film: Amour9m

Lecture 25: The Insidious Invader: Alzheimer's Disease - Film: Away From Her24m

Lecture 26: Maintaining Memory in Old Age - Film: The Bucket List15m

1 readings

Suggested Readings for Module 5 (optional)10m

1 practice exercises

Senior Moments, Forgetfulness, and Dementia28m

Instructor

John Seamon

Professor Emeritus

About Wesleyan University

At Wesleyan, distinguished scholar-teachers work closely with students, taking advantage of fluidity among disciplines to explore the world with a variety of tools. The university seeks to build a diverse, energetic community of students, faculty, and staff who think critically and creatively and who value independence of mind and generosity of spirit. ...

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Understanding Memory: Explaining the Psychology of Memory through Movies