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"Better short-term memory would increase effective intelligence." I'm not sure about that. On one psychologically administered IQ test I did really well; suppo

"Better short-term memory would increase effective intelligence." I'm not sure about that. On one psychologically administered IQ test I did really well; supposedly 99.97th percentile of incoming college students. I was 11; this was one of the final straws in my tenure in middle school. Shortly afterward, I took another test, as part of my case to get into college. Apparently, I did pretty well. In most of the sub-tests, anyway. But then there was a digit recitation test, and a color recitation test, where you had to recite it backwards, forwards, and so on. I must has scored deep in 'idiot.' I could barely do it at all! The psychologist was astonished, and then postulated that I must be really tired, drove me to a cafe to get coffee, and skipped right over the memory tests. On the other hand, I have a decent memory, even short term, in other areas, so maybe it's not so simple.

wallflower 18y ago
I'd love to have the ability to meet a group of people and have their names and faces stored in the equivalent of RAM for the party (once I leave, the names go away - unless I try hard to move them to long-term). I'm working on developing the ability slowly - using all kinds of memory association techniques but it's definitely not natural.
- scott_s 18y ago
  I've theorized that I don't remember a name until I need to use it. I can game this with some effort by taking the time to artificially "need" to use their name by imagining their face and mentally calling their name.
- DaniFong 18y ago
  I tend to try to recite all the names back to people, especially when I'm introduced to a group in a party. It helps a bit.
  - brandnewlow 18y ago
    Agreed. Shake the hand. Look them in the eye. Say "Hello name." Then pause to look at them while they respond. Tunnel vision. That's step 1 to remembering someone I meet at a party.
    - wallflower 18y ago
      I find that as soon as I find out something interesting about the person I've just met that the odds of long-term recall improve dramatically. Context is everything when it comes to recall. I find it takes me at least 5 seconds to remember a remote office co-worker's name if they are visiting our office - by that time, they've already walked past me. I was in another city at an event and thought I saw someone I knew from my home city. I thought 'what the heck would he be doing here? it can't be him' Later on, I emailed him and he was like 'yeah, i thought it was you. i was there too'
cgranade 18y ago
Reminds me of when I was simultaneously marked by the public school system as gifted and in need of special education. Some people have a hard time with the idea that there are different kinds of intelligence.

wallflower 18y ago

I'd love to have the ability to meet a group of people and have their names and faces stored in the equivalent of RAM for the party (once I leave, the names go away - unless I try hard to move them to long-term). I'm working on developing the ability slowly - using all kinds of memory association techniques but it's definitely not natural.

scott_s 18y ago
I've theorized that I don't remember a name until I need to use it. I can game this with some effort by taking the time to artificially "need" to use their name by imagining their face and mentally calling their name.
DaniFong 18y ago
I tend to try to recite all the names back to people, especially when I'm introduced to a group in a party. It helps a bit.
- brandnewlow 18y ago
  Agreed. Shake the hand. Look them in the eye. Say "Hello name." Then pause to look at them while they respond. Tunnel vision. That's step 1 to remembering someone I meet at a party.
  - wallflower 18y ago
    I find that as soon as I find out something interesting about the person I've just met that the odds of long-term recall improve dramatically. Context is everything when it comes to recall. I find it takes me at least 5 seconds to remember a remote office co-worker's name if they are visiting our office - by that time, they've already walked past me. I was in another city at an event and thought I saw someone I knew from my home city. I thought 'what the heck would he be doing here? it can't be him' Later on, I emailed him and he was like 'yeah, i thought it was you. i was there too'

cgranade 18y ago

Reminds me of when I was simultaneously marked by the public school system as gifted and in need of special education. Some people have a hard time with the idea that there are different kinds of intelligence.