Why grandpa keeps telling you that story about the war
Is any visit to the grandparents complete without Gramps telling you about that time in the North Atlantic or Granny shocking you into a permanent state of abstinence recalling the time she almost died giving birth for the eleventh time? Maybe the stories differ but we all know the feeling of wondering if they are trying to drive us crazy or if the doctor has really given them a thorough exam and missed something.
A new study has revealed that older adults have more trouble remembering to whom they have told stories (destination memory) than where they have heard a story (source memory). The scientists believe a loss of focus accompanying aging may explain the loss of destination memory; more simply, they are not noticing to whom it is they are speaking.
As you may have realized, it doesn’t do much good to say you have already heard a particular yarn, and the scientists address that concern as well. Article co-author, Nigel Gopie, of the Rotman Research Institute of Toronto explains, “Older adults are additionally highly confident, compared to younger adults, that they have never told people particular things when they actually had.”
So, sit back, have another cookie, put a smile on your face, watch the Weather Channel, and be thankful they are still there to tell you stories at all.
Full story at LiveScience.
Photo credit: Fotolia
