pv history and memory revisited memory, history, and the brain ii: whence nostalgia and the...

10
PV PV History and Memory Revisited History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr College April Fool’s Day, 2005 April Fool’s Day, 2005 First Fool: Elliott Shore First Fool: Elliott Shore Second Fool: Paul Grobstein Second Fool: Paul Grobstein Third Fool: Paula Viterbo Third Fool: Paula Viterbo

Upload: ralf-owen

Post on 18-Dec-2015

214 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

PVPV

History and Memory RevisitedHistory and Memory RevisitedMemory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories?Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories?

Brown Bag DiscussionBrown Bag Discussion

Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr College

April Fool’s Day, 2005April Fool’s Day, 2005

First Fool: Elliott ShoreFirst Fool: Elliott Shore

Second Fool: Paul GrobsteinSecond Fool: Paul Grobstein

Third Fool: Paula ViterboThird Fool: Paula Viterbo

Page 2: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

ESES

April Fool’s DayApril Fool’s Day

andand

Nostalgia Nostalgia

Page 3: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

ESES

What Paul and Elliott concluded in What Paul and Elliott concluded in November (Memory and the Brain I)November (Memory and the Brain I)

Re. memory:Re. memory: There is nothing in our brains or elsewhere in our bodies that contains There is nothing in our brains or elsewhere in our bodies that contains

complete memories of experiences (stories)complete memories of experiences (stories) There are, however, traces (changes in the neurobiological system) There are, however, traces (changes in the neurobiological system)

that occur as a result of experiencesthat occur as a result of experiences What we call memories are re-creations, stories about past What we call memories are re-creations, stories about past

experiences, based on traces. A memory (story) is created anew each experiences, based on traces. A memory (story) is created anew each time one remembers. Memories are constructed in the present from time one remembers. Memories are constructed in the present from past traces.past traces.

Re. history:Re. history: History is also a re-creation of the past in the presentHistory is also a re-creation of the past in the present History is not a guide to the future because it is the current processing History is not a guide to the future because it is the current processing

of past memories in ways that appear useful in the presentof past memories in ways that appear useful in the present

Page 4: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

ESES

Leftover questions and pointers to Leftover questions and pointers to possible answerspossible answers

What are those “traces” in the brain? Can we What are those “traces” in the brain? Can we understand psychological and cultural understand psychological and cultural explanations in neurobiological terms?explanations in neurobiological terms?

Are there limits / constraints to the stories we tell Are there limits / constraints to the stories we tell ourselves about the past?ourselves about the past?

Are there time-independent memories Are there time-independent memories (knowledge)? Individual vs. species memory(knowledge)? Individual vs. species memory

Three ways to think about constraints on stories:Three ways to think about constraints on stories:– Neurological (Paul & Paula)Neurological (Paul & Paula)– Psychological (Azade)Psychological (Azade)– Cultural (Kalala)Cultural (Kalala)

Page 5: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

PGPG

Neurobiological constraints: the bipartite Neurobiological constraints: the bipartite brain; the role of the neocortexbrain; the role of the neocortex

There is a part of the brain (“upper brain,” There is a part of the brain (“upper brain,” neocortex) that aspires to coherent stories, and it neocortex) that aspires to coherent stories, and it tries to fit new input (from the rest of the brain) into tries to fit new input (from the rest of the brain) into the coherent structures it has (hence a propensity, the coherent structures it has (hence a propensity, among humans, for nostalgia).  Its not, then, so among humans, for nostalgia).  Its not, then, so much what sticks as what is (and is not) much what sticks as what is (and is not) incorporated into stories that matters.incorporated into stories that matters.

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/sci_cult/mentalhealth/neuropsychotherapy/31march05/http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/sci_cult/mentalhealth/neuropsychotherapy/31march05/

Page 6: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

PVPV

The Relation between Memory and HistoryThe Relation between Memory and History

EventsEvents

BrainsBrains

Individual memoryNeurobiologyPsychologyCognitive science

Collective memoryAlternative historiesPsychologySociologyAnthropolgyLiteratureHistory

“Official” historyHistory

Individual self-identityAfter playing and replaying them, we become our memories

Collective identityNationalisms

Traces in the brain(patterns of firing neurons)

Primary sources

Page 7: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

PVPV

Complicating the modelComplicating the model

Neither memory nor history are faithful replicas of the past, Neither memory nor history are faithful replicas of the past, nor infallible guides to the present. nor infallible guides to the present. BUT they are based on BUT they are based on some kind of record of the past. Memories are incomplete some kind of record of the past. Memories are incomplete and interpretive, processed in the brain’s “lower module.” and interpretive, processed in the brain’s “lower module.” Used by both the “lower” and “upper” brain, memory and Used by both the “lower” and “upper” brain, memory and history provide some kind of guide to the present. In other history provide some kind of guide to the present. In other words, humans learn.words, humans learn.

Both memory and history are recreated from traces Both memory and history are recreated from traces (neurological, historical sources). (neurological, historical sources). BUT traces need to be BUT traces need to be interpreted (by the brain’s “upper module”) in order to interpreted (by the brain’s “upper module”) in order to become explicit memories or histories. AND not all become explicit memories or histories. AND not all interpretations are possible. interpretations are possible.

Page 8: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

PVPV

Complicating the modelComplicating the model Stories are constrained by the brain’s internal environment Stories are constrained by the brain’s internal environment

(neurological, genetic), as well as its external environment (neurological, genetic), as well as its external environment (cultural, social). (cultural, social).

Like most historians, brains (or their “upper modules”) are Like most historians, brains (or their “upper modules”) are contextualists (not extreme constructionists). And like a contextualists (not extreme constructionists). And like a maligned minority of historians, they are presentists (they maligned minority of historians, they are presentists (they interpret the past in the light of the present).interpret the past in the light of the present).

BUT in the hands of contextualist historians (or their “upper BUT in the hands of contextualist historians (or their “upper modules”), history can be a guide to the future. Although modules”), history can be a guide to the future. Although some presentist biases are inevitable, historians are trained some presentist biases are inevitable, historians are trained to interpret the past as much as possible in its own context. to interpret the past as much as possible in its own context. Comparative contextual analyses enables them to use (with Comparative contextual analyses enables them to use (with limitations) the past as a guide to the future.limitations) the past as a guide to the future.

Page 9: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

PVPV

Whence nostalgia?Whence nostalgia?Psychological / cultural explanations:Psychological / cultural explanations:

InertiaInertia Fear of change / lossFear of change / loss Mistrust of unknown futureMistrust of unknown future The brain’s “upper module” values the coherence and stability of the stories it The brain’s “upper module” values the coherence and stability of the stories it

constructsconstructs Symmetry between remembrance (nostalgia) and forgetfulness (painful and useless Symmetry between remembrance (nostalgia) and forgetfulness (painful and useless

memories)memories)

Neurobiological explanations:Neurobiological explanations: The brain works in the present, based on traces from the past. The brain constructs The brain works in the present, based on traces from the past. The brain constructs

stories that transform the past into the present.stories that transform the past into the present. The brain does not care about the future.The brain does not care about the future. Memories used over and over again are reinforced in the brain (neurological Memories used over and over again are reinforced in the brain (neurological

pathways; genetic encoding)pathways; genetic encoding) Conservation of energy?Conservation of energy?

Evolutionary explanations:Evolutionary explanations: Is nostalgia adaptive? Does it conserve energy?Is nostalgia adaptive? Does it conserve energy? What makes memories stick? (genetic explanations)What makes memories stick? (genetic explanations)

Page 10: PV History and Memory Revisited Memory, History, and the Brain II: Whence Nostalgia and the Constraints on Stories? Brown Bag Discussion Bryn Mawr College

Return to Summary of Brown Bag DiscussionReturn to Summary of Brown Bag Discussion