is there a theoretical upperlimit to how much long term memory the brain could store?

[slimjim]

I saw a repeat oh Highlander the other day and I wondered "world the human brain actually be able to store 2300 years of memory?"

[Crazedwraith]

Sure. I don't know what it is. But memories and things like that are formed by connections of brain cells. Limited number of brain cells so limited number of connections. Not sure what the limit would be terms of years of memories.

You'd presumably start forgetting things that happen to you say a century ago beyond a few scant details. Hell we do that now with just a century at very best life span.

[knowles2]

No way to really know the answer, the human brain is incredible clever at filling in gaps and masking memory loss. I would presume their is an upper limit, whether that a hundred years worth of memories or two thousand years worth of memories I do not know. We do not exactly know how the brain stores and process, an retrieve memories either.

In the case of highlander, what ever gave them their immortality (alien imprisonment, some define power) may well have given them enhance memories.

[jelgate]

42

[thekillman]

Unless they're a far more advanced human in every way, no.

Your brain has a limited volume. We spread the available brain power over multiple functions. Long term memory, short term memory, reflexes, active thought and perhaps one or two i forgot.

One of the reasons why we have the cliché of the rather forgetful professor, is that someone like that has an enormous amount of stored knowledge, and because of this, has less available short term memory. his mind kicks out useless information very easily, and absorbs other information like a sponge.


However, the older you get, the more stored knowledge you have. Thus, the more forgetful you become.

2300 years of memory is possible, but don't expect him to have a memory of every year. His memories would either be of every decade, and he'd be unable to remember anything short-term for longer than a second, or he'd have a memory of intervals of, say, 50 years or so and proper memory "skills".

[mathpiglet]

Methos is 5000+ years old and remembers most of it, although he does admit that before that it's kind of blurry.

I would agree with thekillman in that not everything is remembered (goodness, I'm 59 and don't remember every detail of my life), but I'm sure that with the right stimulus, most things could be remembered.

[SF_and_Coffee]

One of the reasons why we have the cliché of the rather forgetful professor, is that someone like that has an enormous amount of stored knowledge, and because of this, has less available short term memory. his mind kicks out useless information very easily, and absorbs other information like a sponge.

Long term memory =/= short term memory. The cliché of the forgetful professor is based on the professor being so focused on his actual subject of expertise that he doesn't devote enough attention to the details of everyday life. It is entirely possible to have an enormous amount of stored knowledge and experience, yet have absolutely no problem with one's memory, be it short- or long-term.

However, the older you get, the more stored knowledge you have. Thus, the more forgetful you become.

Not really. I know people in their 70s, 80s and 90s who are no more forgetful than your average 25-year-old. Becoming forgetful is not a normal function of aging. Becoming more forgetful over time is a sign of either not exercising one's mental apparatus sufficiently, or of an underlying disorder.

2300 years of memory is possible, but don't expect him to have a memory of every year. His memories would either be of every decade, and he'd be unable to remember anything short-term for longer than a second, or he'd have a memory of intervals of, say, 50 years or so and proper memory "skills".

Again, short-term memory is not affected by long-term memory. They are two separate functions. Also, memory intervals? No, memory doesn't work that way. He'd most likely have the same sort of not-quite contiguous memory that most people have. There would simply be more to remember. You probably don't remember every detail of every day of last week, yet you may well have certain limited periods of time for which you remember an enormous amount of detail. I couldn't tell you what I had for lunch last Thursday, but I can remember almost every detail of a couple of meaningful conversations I had last year. I have memories from 1985 that sort of run together but a number of events stand out clearly. I have the same kind of memories from three years ago. That's how memory works in most adults, regardless of age.

[SoulReaver]

damn...I had the answer to that one but I can't remember :/