One of the Most Unsettling Phenomena of the Human Brain
Summary
TLDRThis script delves into the profound impact of memories on our identity, contrasting a life with intact memories against one where they are erased daily due to dementia. It explores the reality of Alzheimer's disease, its progression, and the existential questions it raises about selfhood and the fragility of our cognitive existence. The narrative is further enriched by the poignant story of artist William Utermohlen's self-portraits, illustrating the erosion of self-perception through dementia, and the unsettling truth of false memories, challenging our trust in the reliability of our own recollections.
Takeaways
- đ Memories are powerful triggers that can evoke intense emotions and past experiences.
- đ§ Our identity is deeply tied to our memories and the continuity they provide to our consciousness.
- đ” Dementia, often associated with Alzheimer's disease, impairs memory and cognitive functions, affecting millions.
- đ Alzheimer's is the leading cause of dementia, with a significant increase in cases due to an aging population.
- 𧏠The exact cause of Alzheimer's remains unknown, but it is characterized by abnormal protein deposits in the brain.
- đ Dementia progresses in stages, with early signs often going unnoticed and later stages leading to severe cognitive decline.
- đš Artist William Utermohlen's self-portraits illustrate the erosion of self-perception and cognitive function due to dementia.
- đ The fragility of memory is highlighted by the phenomenon of false memories, which can be influenced by various factors.
- đ€ The reliability of our memories is questioned, as they can be susceptible to distortion and inaccuracy.
- đ Dementia raises profound questions about the nature of selfhood, existence, and the meaning we derive from life.
- đĄ The script challenges us to consider the abstract and delicate nature of our identities, which are constructed from our memories.
Q & A
What triggers the sudden recall of memories?
-Memories can be triggered by various stimuli such as a picture, a song, a scent, or a breeze at a certain temperature and force that is familiar to the individual.
How are memories connected to our identity?
-Memories are integral to our identity as they provide subjective continuity, allowing us to track our past and have access to it in the present, shaping our sense of self.
What is the choice presented between living for thousands of years with no memories or living for fifty years with intact memories?
-The choice is between living a potentially longer life devoid of memories or a shorter life with clear, consistent memories, which most people would likely prefer for a richer, more meaningful existence.
What is dementia and what are its typical symptoms?
-Dementia is a group of symptoms that impair memory, thinking, and general functions, often associated with memory loss, and can be caused by various diseases, with Alzheimer's being the leading cause.
How does Alzheimer's disease affect the brain?
-Alzheimer's disease is characterized by abnormal protein deposits in the brain, with amyloid and tau proteins forming plaques and tangles that cause brain cells to die, leading to neuron disconnection, brain shrinkage, and cognitive decline.
What are the seven stages of dementia and what happens in each?
-The stages range from minor forgetfulness in the first two stages to severe cognitive decline in stages five and six, and finally, in stage seven, the loss of recognition, language skills, and bodily function, resulting in total disorientation and dysfunction.
What is the significance of William Utermohlen's self-portraits in relation to dementia?
-William Utermohlen's self-portraits, painted as his dementia progressed, visually depict the internal effects of dementia, showing how self-perception, autonomy, and understanding of the world change and erode over time.
How do memories differ from watching a video?
-Unlike a video, memories have no consistent, distinct, and tangible record. They are always in the present and are subject to corroboration with others or external proof, but many are accessible solely through personal recall.
What is a false memory and how can it be formed?
-A false memory is a recollection of events or things that never happened or did not happen as remembered. It can be formed through suggestibility, mislabeling information, or projecting current views or desires onto past events.
What does the phenomenon of false memory formation suggest about the reliability of our memories?
-The phenomenon suggests that our memories can be fragile and susceptible, raising questions about how much we can trust them, especially in the absence of external validation.
What broader implications does dementia have on our understanding of existence and identity?
-Dementia highlights the fragility of our identities, which are constructed within our minds from imprecise memories and synaptic connections, and raises questions about the nature of selfhood and the reliability of our cognitive experiences.
Outlines
đ§ The Essence of Memory and Dementia
This paragraph explores the power of memories and the profound impact of dementia on identity and self-perception. It poses a hypothetical choice between living a long life devoid of memories or a shorter life with intact memories, suggesting most would opt for the latter. The text delves into the concept of identity being tied to our ability to recall past experiences, which provide continuity and meaning to our lives. It introduces dementia as a condition that impairs memory and cognitive functions, with Alzheimer's disease being the primary cause. The paragraph also discusses the physical manifestations of Alzheimer's, such as protein deposits leading to neuronal death and brain deterioration, and outlines the seven stages of dementia, highlighting the progressive loss of cognitive abilities and the profound existential questions it raises about our sense of self.
đš The Artistic Depiction of Dementia's Toll
The second paragraph focuses on the personal journey of artist William Utermohlen, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and documented his cognitive decline through a series of self-portraits. These portraits, initially detailed and accurate, progressively lose definition and become abstract, reflecting the erosion of self-perception and cognitive function due to dementia. The discussion extends to the broader implications of memory fragility, the phenomenon of false memories, and the inherent unreliability of our recollections. It raises questions about the nature of our existence and the construction of our identities within the confines of our minds, suggesting that we are all, in a way, demented, as our memories are susceptible to distortion and loss, and our sense of self is a fragile construct.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄMemories
đĄDementia
đĄAlzheimer's disease
đĄAmyloid and Tau
đĄCognitive decline
đĄIdentity
đĄFalse memories
đĄSelf-portraits
đĄExistence
đĄConsciousness
Highlights
Memories can be triggered by simple experiences like a picture, song, or scent, evoking intense emotions and recollections of our past.
The human identity is deeply intertwined with our memories, which provide a sense of continuity and self-awareness.
A hypothetical choice between immortality with memory loss and a finite life with intact memories highlights the value we place on memory for a meaningful existence.
Dementia, often associated with Alzheimer's disease, impairs memory and cognitive functions, affecting up to 80% of cases.
Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia and the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S., with increasing prevalence due to an aging population.
The progression of Alzheimer's involves the buildup of abnormal protein deposits, amyloid and tau, leading to neuronal death and brain deterioration.
Dementia is characterized by seven stages, starting with minor forgetfulness and escalating to severe cognitive decline and loss of self-recognition.
In the later stages of dementia, individuals experience a profound loss of cognitive function, including the inability to recognize loved ones and themselves.
The impact of dementia raises existential questions about identity, consciousness, and the fragility of our self-perception.
Artist William Utermohlen's self-portraits during his Alzheimer's progression visually depict the erosion of self and memory.
Utermohlen's artwork reflects the gradual loss of detail and self-recognition, ending in abstract, unrecognizable forms.
Memories are always experienced in the present, despite being formed in the past, emphasizing their impermanent and subjective nature.
False memories, common in dementia, also occur in healthy individuals, challenging the reliability of our recollections.
Psychological studies, such as Elizabeth Loftus's mall study, demonstrate the formation of false memories through suggestion and cognitive biases.
The mind's susceptibility to false memories and the fragility of our memories question the trustworthiness of our personal history.
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease reveal the vulnerability of our identities, constructed within the imprecise and fragile framework of memory.
The existential implications of dementia force us to consider the nature of selfhood and the precariousness of our existence within our minds.
Transcripts
It doesnât take much. A picture. A song. A scent. A breeze at just the right temperature with just Â
the right amount of force. Suddenly, memories flash through our head. Clicked on by the Â
cursor of these familiar experiences, old files open. Often with an intense poignancy, longing, Â
regret, delight, or whatever else, we watch them play. People. Places. Things. Feelings. States Â
of who wereâat least who we believe we were. In many ways, we are our memories. If you were Â
given the choice to either live for thousands of years but every day, all of your memories would Â
be erased, or live for fifty years and all of your memories would remain fully intact and consistent, Â
which would you choose? For most of us, I believe, the choice is obvious. Fifty years with clear, Â
consistent memories provides the richer, more meaningful life. Perhaps, in this dichotomy, Â
it provides the only rich, meaningful life. But what does this mean about what we derive Â
value from? The meaning we form from ourselvesâour identityâis, of course, not merely physical. Itâs Â
the ability of our mind to retain and provide subjective continuityâa tracking of our past Â
that we ceaselessly have access to in the present. What if an old image of yourself, of your friends, Â
or the sensation of a familiar breeze with the scent of a place youâve been many times, Â
didnât open anything? No memoriesâat least no clear, consistent ones. The files and Â
folders have been trashed with no backup. Not only that, but no new memories can be formed Â
either. Who would you be? What would this mean? Would there be a you? For some of us, Â
this isnât a thought experiment or hypothetical. It is or will become reality. Our memories will Â
be lostâdaily, momentarily, from our entire life. The term dementia refers to a group of symptoms Â
that impair memory, thinking, and other general functions. Typically, dementia is associated with Â
memory loss. Dementia can be caused by many diseases and conditions. The leading cause, Â
however, is Alzheimer's disease. As many as 60-80% of cases of dementia are caused by Â
Alzheimer's. It is also the seventh leading cause of death in America, in general. According to the Â
Alzheimer's Association, 10% of 65-year-olds have Alzheimer's. That percentage continues to Â
increase significantly with age. And due to the increasing number of older people as a result of Â
advancements in medicine and technology, cases of Alzheimerâs are significantly increasing.Â
The cause of Alzheimerâs is still mostly unknown. The main characteristic, however, is abnormal Â
protein deposits in the brain. Two proteins called amyloid and tau form plaques around and cause Â
tangles within brain cells, eventually causing them to die. As the cells die, the neurons and Â
their network become disconnected, and parts of the brain shrink. The correlated functions of the Â
brain deteriorate alongside, and dementia sets in. There are seven stages of dementia. The first two Â
go by mostly unnoticed. Minor forgetfulness and occasional difficulty finding the right Â
words. In the third and fourth stages, symptoms become increasingly noticeable. Significant and Â
interfering forgetfulness. Difficulty forming and completing sentences. Decreasing ability Â
to manage daily tasks and keep up with events. And other general dysfunction. In stages five and six, Â
severe cognitive decline takes place. The mind begins to take the individual from themselves. Â
Significant memory loss occurs. Confusion about oneself and oneâs environment. Major personality Â
changes. Inability to accomplish basic tasks. Delusions. And hallucinations. By stage seven, Â
dementia essentially takes everything that is left. The recognition of family members and Â
oneself. Language skills. Bodily function. What remains is total disorientation and dysfunction. Â
At this point, the world has lost nearly all symbolic meaning. The ability to label, Â
define, recognize, and recall things is gone. And these things, from the perspective of the mind, Â
is all the world is. The individual is now completely adrift in a shrinking sea of Â
evaporating brain cells until, finally, the sea dries up enough for no life to remain.Â
Putting aside the gruesome, horrible details of this very real experience for very real people, Â
it is both deeply profound and deeply unsettling to consider dementiaâs implicationsâwhat it Â
suggests about who we are and what it means to exist and derive meaning from existence. Â
Proportional to the degree in which dementia dims the light of consciousness and selfhood within Â
the affected, it illuminates the delicacy and abstractness of these things for the unaffected.Â
In 1995, American artist William Utermohlen was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 61. Following Â
his diagnosis, over the subsequent five years, into and throughout the stages of his dementia, Â
Utermohlen painted a now-famous series of self-portraits. In these portraits, Â
one can observe the internal effects of dementia depicted visuallyâhow the affected Â
personâs self-perception, autonomy, and symbolic understanding of the world changes and erodes Â
overtime. The portraits start out with detail and accuracy, but soon, they become abstract, Â
containing unusual colors and shaping until, finally, in the last portraits, Â
they dip into nothing more than grungy, shaded circles with what can maybe be made out to be Â
the shadows of what was once a nose or a brow. At some point throughout the process, it can be Â
assumed that Utermohlen loses comprehension of the significance of the portraits. But to the Â
outside observer, they reveal the fragility and abstract underlying nature of self-hood, Â
memories, and cognitive function. What are we without our memories, without the ability to Â
remember accurately, without the ability to form memories, without certain aspects of our brain?Â
In general, recalling a memory is, in some sense, like watching a video. The video, Â
though it was produced in the past, is and can only be watched right now. Memories are always Â
in the present. Remembering is always a present act. Unlike a video, however, Â
with memories, there is no consistent, distinct, and tangible record of them. We can, of course, Â
corroborate our memories with others, with trackable events, or with external proof, Â
but for most of lifeâs events in which there are no witnesses who can provide a testimony, Â
or there are conflicting testimonies, or there are no clear facts or evidence, our past is accessible Â
to us solely through our memories. But if our memories can be this fragile, this susceptible, Â
how much can we trust them in general? A common symptom of dementia is forming Â
false memories. These are memories of events and things that never happenedâor didnât happen in a Â
way that one believes they did. But false memories are not exclusive to those affected by dementia. Â
They can and likely do occur in everyone. In a study in 1994 conducted by psychologist Â
Elizabeth Loftus, participants were asked to describe a specific event from their Â
childhoodâgetting lost in a shopping mall. Participants then proceeded to describe the Â
event with great detail. The issue is that none of the participants had actually ever gotten lost Â
in a mall. It was merely suggested to them in a question asked by the psychologist conducting the Â
study. 25% of the participants, however, formed entire confabulated memories of this event. There Â
are many other studies like thisâstudies that demonstrate to statistical significance the Â
phenomenon of false memory formation as a result of things like suggestibility, Â
mislabeling information, and the projection of oneâs current views or desires onto past events.Â
How many of our memories are false memories? Confabulations generated Â
out of our desire for something other than the truthâout of jealousy, shame, hope, Â
confidence, a changing in personal views and values; out of ineptitude and credulousness; Â
out of cognitive biases. There are so many blind spots in the mind, the mind is more Â
like one big blind spot with one tiny spotlight. Like a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy, Â
each instance of remembering a thing also remembers the previous instance Â
of remembering the thing (sometimes solely the previous instance), each instance potentially Â
losing detail and accuracyâconnective tissue to the real experience. We are all playing a Â
lifelong games of telephone with ourselves about ourselves. We are all demented in some sense.Â
Alzheimerâs and dementia are so unsettling and horrifying, not only because of the terrible, Â
prospective firsthand experience but also because of what it reveals about our existence Â
in general. We are passengersâto our bodies, our minds, the universe. We are inextricably Â
contained inside the clump of jell-O-like fat inside our skull, and our identities are Â
fragile constructions made within this, out of the imprecise shapes of memoriesâsynaptic Â
connections vulnerable to being ripped apart. The kinds of questions one might ask who Â
suffers from later stage dementia arenât so dissimilar from the kinds of questions Â
one might ask broadly when considering the implications of dementia, when considering Â
the origins and prospects of existing inside a mind. Where am I? What am I doing? What am I?
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