Do You Feel The Need To Format/defrag Your Brain?

[The Simpleton 2]

This is the problem with spending too much time on computers - you end up getting crazy ideas like these!!! Anyway, let me get to the point. I'm sure you might be knowing that all of us have a thing known as the brain and that it is far more powerful than the fastest supercomputer available today. The only problem is that it doesn't have many efficient operators to make use of that speed! Okay let us not talk about the speed and power of the brain; instead I want to talk about the capacity of the brain.

It is easy to imagine our brain as a large hard disk where we store information about all our activities. Whatever we see in daily life is recorded in our brain cells, maybe in 1080p Full-HD! And as you know, HD video takes up a lot of space....so we might consider freeing up some space from time to time in order to avoid overloading. Now in the case of computers it's easy to free up some space by transferring the files to DVDs or some other storage medium. But how can we do that to the brain?! Some of you might remember the Pensieve from the Harry Potter series - it's used to store memories. Well my idea is also something like that, but there's more.

There are some things in life that we don't want to remember forever - wouldn't it be nice if we had a way to delete those files...I mean memories? Also, it would be awesome if we had something like a file manager for our brain. I'm sure there are lots of times in life when you want to remember something but never seem to get it at the right time. Then after everything's over, you suddenly remember it! It would be cool to have something like a grep utility for the brain to help us in these situations

On the whole, I wish we could just train ourselves better to utilize the brain properly. That's a lot of power being wasted by us all-we need to harness it. Okay, so now what was I talking about.......????

[FouGilang 0]

Ok, so you're talking about... The highest level of cyborg innovation :)It would be great if we can delete or modify those unwanted files... Err sorry, memories, yeah memories, like those brainwashing things in some sci-fi project. But wow, in my wildest imagination you will be just like a cyborg or high class wizard for doing that (And now i'm thinking of some tune up utilities for my brain...)

[Nameless_ 1]

Oh my god... I really can't believe that you have an idea like This one, The Simpleton. I mean, I know that you have a lot of ideas and innovations... but seriously... I believe that you should go to your nearest GP and then proceed to your nearest mental hospital. The computers have start to eat away your brains... ooooh...Haha, just joking. But I was seriously about the bit where the computers are starting to eat up your brain. In fact, I think that computers are starting to eat up my brain too!!! But anyway. I don't know anything about super computers and what they are, so I don't really know how or why the brain would be faster and have more memory than a "supercomputer". But what I know is this. The brain never really forgets anything, and you have all the memories that you ever had in your life time, even if it is hidden away in your subconsious brain.But there a few reasons why this wouldn't work... after all, your brain has developed to the very best it has over the thousands and millions and billions of years of evolution, and there is a reason why you cannot "delete" those files or memories that you don't want in your brain any more. First things first. Deleting something in your memory does NOT change history, What has happened has already happened and by deleting it, you won't be doing anything else but save yourself from the bad experience, whether it is guilt or humiliation from your mind. But while you can delete your memories and files (let's say) you cannot do so for other people, and therefore they will have a memory that you don't have and when they mention it you won't understand what they are talking about.Secondly, if we deleted all the bad experiences in our brains, then we will have a perfect life (or as perfect as we could make it). And do you know the one thing our brains can't stand? Yes, that's it. A perfect life. It would mean that we would never had made any mistakes (well, as we remember it) in our lifes, and we willl grow sad and desolated because we will think that we can't improve ourselves anymore and therefore have nothing else to do in life. Also, remember the subconscious concept? If we really deleted all those memories, and also in your "Recycle Bin" as well, then we will keep facing the same problems over and over again without know how to stand up and face it ourselves, especially if we don't have any memory of having this problem before. In your minds, you are flawless, but in history (and in other people's minds), you are making the same mistake over and over again. Would you like that?Well, I know that I wouldn't... our brains also have a "erase" mechanism where we forget really really bad things that had happened to you. People who are raped, or suffered a devastating experience like losing their family in an earthquake, seeing someone killed right before their eyes, and etc and etc often experience amnesia (you forget everything) to save you from emotional shock. And that only happens when it is absolutely necessary or you will go mental.So I believe that our brains is already good enough as it is and we won't need to imitate computers. After all, it's not like we can just delete the sad_emotion.php and the angry_emotion.php and things like that from the "emotions" folder in out minds, is it? But there is one thing sthat I agree with you in this thread...We should really learn to harness our brain abilities and use our brain to the maximum.

[rvalkass 5]

I think the reason we can store what seems like a huge amount of information and memories in our brains is that we're not storing quite as much as we think. Take my walk to University each morning. If I recorded that walk on HD video I would have colossal detail. I'd be able to stop it frame by frame and count the number of bricks in walls, read the registration plates on cars, count the white lines down the middle of the road, all that sort of stuff. In my mind I can visualise my walk very well, but not quite in the same detail - we remember the important parts and generic details (such as a white van rather than that particular white van) and fill in the gaps when we need to, which computers can't really do.

 

As far as I know, at the moment, we aren't quite sure exactly how the brain stores information. You couldn't take someone's brain, point at a little part of it, and state that part contains memories from their 1994 summer holiday. Until we have a better idea of how the brain stores and retrieves information then there is no way to make it more efficient or investigate further.

[inverse_bloom 0]

But we do know that the brain itself structures memories and experiences naturally like a defrag!. Basically the brain assimilates new information into its current model, not just storing information but also slightly modifying the existing system. I cant remember exactly how it all works, but books on improving your memory provide excellent insights into these processes.

Edited November 8, 2009 by inverse_bloom (see edit history)

[The Simpleton 2]

Well I'm not suggesting that all of us become Cyborgs, and I'm certainly not suggesting that we alter history!!! (as Nameless_ mentioned ) It's just a crazy idea that rolled out when I was thinking about how much of my brain I'm wasting (I'm probably wasting a lot more by creating threads like these!!!) by keeping unnecessary thoughts in and useful thoughts out. I'm just hopeful that there will be an easy way to solve this problem for everyone at one shot. Self-help and memory books/courses are useful, but not all have the time to complete them - I'm looking at an idea where we get a simple solution that works for everyone on the planet.....

[mahesh2k 0]

Wish i could do that with my memories. I want to erase a large portion of memories as they have no use to me. Maybe some lesson or two but i don't want the remaining data associated with it.I have so many memories that i want to erase but more i hate them stronger they remain on my brain. Our mind is like magnet in this case it attracts top priority level for good and bad things so if we hate something extremely. Then it will remain in mind for quite some time. I don't know if you've one through works of danniel dannet and steven pinker but read them if you want to know human mind and human behavior.

[inverse_bloom 0]

Actually Edward De Bono books are good for this also. They are more associated with creativity and lateral thinking, but what they do provide is a walkthrough into how the mind processes ideas and memories, also how we form patterns and how those patterns are modified.

@TS's post 6, Actually according to DeBono (one of the world's leading thought experts) creativity enables us to modify existing patterns. The brain is good at forming patterns of thinking which get extended by more thought that are of similar patterns.

Creative thinking helps us diverge from these rigid patterns within our brains to take different directions. For instance, if you think about a past memory "in a different light", you are more than likely able to modify your perceptions and "recall" of that memory. Anyways.

By the way i read this book by an Australian author i believe, called "The Memory Book". It's not too bad for a general read. Here is a link -

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Although you have to be a little carefull how tight you crinkle pages, as my dads copy that i was using started to fall apart.

Edited November 9, 2009 by inverse_bloom (see edit history)

[FouGilang 0]

HahaBut you must already know that brain can be easily modified, aren't you? We, human, have the ability to do those tune up utilites can do since we were bornWe have that one named 'to forget' which equivalent to 'delete'. When we think that some memories are useless to keep (junk / temporary), or some bad memories that make us sick (malware) we will 'delete' it permanently. (and i don't think i must tell you how easily i am to be forgot about something...)We have that ability to choose the subject / hobbies we like, which just worked like 'partition' where we can put whatever in our liking there, so much to our hobbies and usefulness for each partition We can 'refresh' our brain, easily by playing some games, joking, or just smiling. We can 'repair' bad memories by fixing thing. Like apologizing or give apologize (come on, 'i'm sorry' was merely only need a second to say) And of course There may be more way to tweak your box discovered in those professional books rather than some childish speaking like me

[sheepdog 10]

There is a defrag for the brain, it's called Alzheimer?s disease! Even just general old age works pretty good, after it gets so full, I expect the brain starts culling files on it's own, it's just too bad we don't have more control over what gets deleted. Now where did I put my glasses..........................

[greenpeace 0]

Probably tomorrow there will be such a technology that would allow us to format or defrag our brains. If this is offered as a commercial service, that would create some fun !We do a backup of our files before we do a format of hard disks. When it comes to brain formatting, they will do a backup and after formating, will restore the data back in to our brain. What if the backup fails? What if they intentionally refuses to restore, who will ask to whom? What if the backup mixed up with other customers? Mr. X, who is a doctor would get a restored version of Mr. Y who is an engineer !!!Defrag is a serious process even though we do it often on our personal computers. I think those working with data storage at mission critical or corporate enviornments would not do this, unless they have a few full back up. What if you missed the fragment that stores your identity as a so and so person? What if you lost the fragment that stores the information that you are undergoing a brain defrag?Am I talking about human beings or some machines?? I doubt...

[mamer 0]

I think our brains do that naturally but very slowly and gradually over the years. Forgetting names, faces and events is similar to partial and gradual formatting.

Defrag? I'm not sure. Maybe the case when we fill in some gaps in memory with some relevant recollections taken from here and there.

Halting? Yes it happens as well.

Virus? When we get crazy.

Bad Sector? When we get stupid.

Partition not active? When we get drunk.

[sheepdog 10]

"Partition not active? When we get drunk."

 

LOLOLOL, now that's a good one! Bad sector is good too. I think I have that problem sometimes. What drives me crazy is when I have what I call for lack of a better term, brain farts. When I try to remember some silly little something it's like my brain just goes completely blank. It might be something I was right in the middle of working on or doing, and zip, the brain just seems to kick into neutral.

[mamer 0]

yes, that happens to me a lot. For me it's something like the a screen with an hourglass that doesn't respond to any mouse clicks and a message box on my forehead that says: "mamer is not responding, what shall we do with him?". Simply my system is busy and I need to leave it a lone for a while until my memory comes back. I simply stop challenging my memory and give it time and space to recover.

Edited February 6, 2013 by mamer (see edit history)

[rpgsearcherz 5]

I think our brains do that naturally but very slowly and gradually over the years. Forgetting names, faces and events is similar to partial and gradual formatting.

This is one way to view it, but there are theories that we never actually forget anything, and it's all still in our brain, it just can't be accessed for one reason or another. I guess a better way to explain it would be like... things get put in the recycle bin (where they can be retrieved, but otherwise are "trashed" to an extent).