“Humans who over-remember suffer tremendously”: Dr. Andrew Huberman on why intelligent people struggle in life

Soniya
Intelligent people who remember everything suffers tremendously (Image via Youtube @Andrew Huberman)
Intelligent people who remember everything suffers tremendously (Image via Youtube @Andrew Huberman)

The brain has an incredible ability to store information, but according to Dr. Andrew Huberman, an accomplished neuroscientist, humans who over-remember often suffer tremendously.

Dr. Huberman's research challenges the popular notion that remembering every detail equates to intelligence.

Instead, he argues that people who struggle with recalling insignificant information often encounter difficulties in their everyday life.

This excessive memory recall burdens the brain and hinders its ability to excel in practical, real-life situations. Highly intelligent individuals may experience challenges due to their tendency to over-remember.


Pitfalls of over-remembering - Dr. Huberman explains how it impacts daily life and intelligence

Impacts day-to-day life and activity (Image via Vecteezy)
Impacts day-to-day life and activity (Image via Vecteezy)

Dr. Huberman challenges the notion that remembering every single detail equates to intelligence.

He argues that most of us have no desire to walk around carrying the burden of an encyclopedic memory. Explaing how over-remebering can affect people, he says:

"I don't think most us are interestested in walking around and knowing how to remember everything. There are many studies looking at human who over remember and they suffer tremendously."

Instead of bringing about benefits, individuals who over-remember often suffer tremendously.

For example, recalling mundane information like a receipt number at the top of a bodega purchase made a decade ago is useless in everyday life.

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Research shows: Over-remembering hinders real-life success

Numerous scientific studies have investigated the impact of over-remembering, providing legitimacy to Dr. Huberman's claims.

Research has shown that individuals who excessively recall trivial details struggle in various aspects of their life.

Focusing too much on irrelevant information consumes valuable mental resources, making it challenging for intelligent people to thrive in real-life situations.

Look for adaptive changes (Image via Unsplash/ Stefano Bucciarelli)
Look for adaptive changes (Image via Unsplash/ Stefano Bucciarelli)

A study shared by the Journal of Experimental Psychology- Learning, Memory and Cognition checked out how over-remembering messes with your brain health.

The findings were pretty interesting - those individuals who can't stop bringing up random info had problems handling the details and making decisions in real-life situations.

That extra recall obsession acted like a roadblock on the highway of their cognitive performance. Remembering every little thing might sound baller, but it can really trip you up when it comes to processing info and making choices in the real world.

In a longitudinal study conducted at a prestigious university, researchers followed the academic and professional journeys of highly intelligent individuals.

The study revealed that those who focused too much on remembering trivial information found it difficult to excel in their chosen fields.

They were more likely to face challenges in adapting to new situations and applying their intelligence effectively.


Better memory recall for better decision-making - the benefits of selective memory

Selective approach can help ease decision making (Image via Unsplash/Growtika)
Selective approach can help ease decision making (Image via Unsplash/Growtika)

Selective Memory: Quality over Quantity

Dr. Huberman suggests that the key to overcoming these struggles lies in adopting a selective memory approach.

The goal should not be to remember everything but rather to prioritize the information that truly matters. By filtering out insignificant details, intelligent individuals can free up their cognitive capacity for essential tasks and decision-making.

When discussing memory and intelligence, Dr. Huberman emphasizes the importance of adaptive brain changes.

The brain has an amazing ability to rewire and reorganize thoughts based on experiences. By actively engaging in activities that promote growth and stimulate cognitive function, intelligent individuals can reshape their brain to enhance their problem-solving skills, creativity and overall performance in life.

Can stimulate cognitive function (Image via Unsplash/Kommers)
Can stimulate cognitive function (Image via Unsplash/Kommers)

The struggles faced by intelligent individuals are not to be taken lightly. The pressure to succeed and meet high expectations can be overwhelming.

However, by adopting a selective memory approach and embracing adaptive brain changes, intelligent people can navigate these challenges more effectively.

Instead of being trapped by constant memory recall, they can focus on what truly matters, make informed decisions and thrive in their personal and professional endeavors.


Dr. Andrew Huberman's research offers valuable insights into the struggles faced by intelligent individuals due to over-remembering.

The burden of recalling trivial details hampers their ability to excel in real life. Supported by various legitimate studies, it's clear that adopting a selective memory approach and fostering adaptive changes in the brain can help intelligent people overcome these challenges and achieve success.

Remembering everything is not the goal; instead it's essential to prioritize information, embrace growth and leverage cognitive abilities for a fulfilling and prosperous life.

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