The Memory Game: What Science Tells Us About Making Information Stick

Picture this. You’re sitting across a potential client you met at a networking event last month. You remember the emotional conversation about their business challenges. But as they ask, ‘So what were your thoughts about the pricing structure we discussed?’ your mind goes completely blank. 

Did they show you their website? Or a snapshot of their sales analytics? You remember the connection you felt, the general topic of your conversation, but the specific details? Gone. 

As business owners and freelancers, we rely heavily on our ability to remember important details from many different aspects of our business, and from the briefest encounters – from client preferences to project specifications, from pricing agreements to process workflows. But science reveals that our memory (specifically visual memory) doesn’t always work the way we think.

This study from Rice University explores the relationship between memorable images, emotion, the passage of time, and our ability to remember details, especially on very similar-looking visual content. Read on to understand the science of visual memory and how we can create images and graphics for our clients, other stakeholders, and even ourselves that are easy to remember.

Click here for my study breakdown & how you can use this study in your business & life:

More Actionable Breakdowns

Did you miss one of our previous breakdowns? Here are some you might find helpful.

New Study Highlights Simple Hacks to Boost Brainpower and Improve Decision-Making

Our working memory, or "human RAM," is a powerful mechanism that simultaneously processes and retains information, guiding our actions, learning, decision-making, and planning. This breakdown examines how working memory filters, prioritizes, and processes internal mental content and external stimuli. Get simple science-backed tricks to maximize your working memory performance, such as using external cues, setting clear goals, and managing distractions, ultimately optimizing cognitive function and productivity.

New Study Says There IS a Magic Door Into Your Customer or Coworker’s Brain

Did you know that our brains mirror each other during social interactions? And that’s what forms the basis for human connection and engagement. For business owners who constantly interact and negotiate with others, understanding and potentially triggering brain syncing could lead to smoother, more cooperative interactions and desired outcomes. Want to raise your rates? Negotiate a better contract? Land more business from your customers? This study breakdown explores how simple, common behaviors might facilitate this mirroring of brain activity, potentially fast-tracking social bonding, cooperation, and coordination in business settings.

New Study: “Right Sleep” Might Trump More Sleep

We business owners often sacrifice sleep for more hours working on our business – and we might even tell ourselves things like: “I’ll sleep more when this project is complete” or when a revenue goal is hit, a new employee is onboarded, etc. You get the idea. These “when X happens” lies we tell ourselves often leave us exhausted and we’ve all been told we should not walk around sleep-deprived and all the dangers that come with it. But what is considered “sleep deprived”? How can we prevent (or mitigate) it and what factors affect the amount and quality of sleep we get? If the answer isn’t just “sleep more,” what is it? Check out this study breakdown on Understanding the Need for Sleep to Improve Cognition.

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I hope you found this valuable!

Wishing you much productivity!

- Jenae :)