The Neuroscience of Name Retrieval: Why We Forget Names (and What to Do About It)
Frustrated by frequently forgetting names, the author embarks on a journey to understand how the brain stores and retrieves names. The article lucidly explains the three stages of memory – sensory, short-term, and long-term – and the complex process of name retrieval, involving conceptual preparation, lexical selection, encoding, and articulation. Research reveals name retrieval isn't localized but a distributed function across the left hemisphere. Forgetting can stem from information failing to transfer between memory stages, improper long-term encoding, or 'blocking' during retrieval. The article concludes by discussing factors influencing memory and suggesting attention training and forging new neural connections to improve recall.