In 2023, I was encouraged to create an Instagram account to promote my upcoming book. Just over 2 years later, this account has just under 10,000 followers. But that's not what I'm posting about.
As 2025 is winding down, I've been taking some time to remember--and to reflect.
On one hand, this has been the most challenging year I have ever faced as a scientist. On the other hand, I've seen first hand that people everywhere--all over the world--are excited to learn about science.
I've been pretty lucky to get to share what I've learned about the science of memory via this account and via other media without having to care about selling stuff, establishing a "brand", or talking about things that I don't know anything about. I've been able to say "I don't know," or "We aren't sure, but..." Although I try to find science-backed tips to help people, I don't have to tell people about their "superpowers" or how to hack their brains for “neuroplasticity” to magically transform their lives without any understanding of why they should want to do so in the first place. This is not about merchandise, clickbait, or likes and subscribes. Whether 10 or 10,000, or 100,000 people follow this account, it is still awesome that I get to do this.
I am no role model or wellness guru, and still trying to figure out a way to balance everything--including work on another book! But over the next year, I am planning to post more science-based content on how to deal with everyday memory challenges, improve brain health, and how to use memory science to live better. And if you have questions or topics you want me to address in the next year, please comment below.
Thanks and happy holidays!
It’s an honor to share that Why We Remember has landed on multiple Best Books of 2024 lists!! So thankful to all who made this year so incredible, and looking forward to what 2025 will bring.
Happy holidays to all who celebrate!
#WhyWeRemember #BestBooksof2024 #science #neuroscience #nonfiction #sciencebooks @doubledaybooks
After a long wait, here we are—Why We Remember is finally #published and out in the world!!
This has been an incredible project and an undertaking that couldn’t have happened without the support of so many folks: @doubledaybooks@fortierpr@rachelbneumann@waveliterary@ideaarchitects@suebinpark ; of course my wife, Nicole, and daughter, Mira.
Huge thank you to everyone, and to all of you who have been waiting for this moment with me. #WhyWeRemember is available in bookstores and online (Linktree in bio), and be sure to check if I’m coming to talk in a city near you!!
#newbook #nonfiction #neuroscience #memory #bookstagram
Actress Marilu Henner, one of fewer than 70 people with highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM), visited @ucdavis last month to film a documentary with psychologist Charan Ranganath about the science of memory.
In class, she answered students’ questions, reflected on her life, and shared what she’s learned about using memory to bring meaning to the present.
Visit the link in our bio to learn more.
Last week, we had a very special visitor to campus... Marilu Henner!
You may know Marilu from the big screen, but did you know she also has a special "superpower": Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM)?
This rare condition allows her to vividly recall almost every day of her life, including personal events and public details, with extreme accuracy. There are fewer than 100 people worldwide who have been diagnosed!
During her visit, she met with Dean Atekwana, spoke to students about her memory, and even answered various questions during their lecture.
Curious about leading-edge neuroscience research? Interested in how the brain adapts and learns?
Join us at 🧠 NeuroFest 2026 –
Adapting to Change: Neuroplasticity Across the Lifespan
📅 Saturday, March 7
⏰ 12:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
📍 UC Davis Conference Center
Space is limited — register today:
🔗 neuroscience.ucdavis.edu/neurofest
Featured Speakers:
𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗭𝗶𝘁𝗼, 𝗣𝗵.𝗗.
How Can Synapses Be Both Plastic, in Order to Encode New Memories, and Stable, in Order to Retain Old Ones?
𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗶, 𝗣𝗵.𝗗.
Cutting Connections Without Losing Learning: A Strategy for Neural Pruning
𝗪. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀𝗿𝗲𝘆, 𝗣𝗵.𝗗.
How Visual Circuits Adapt to Changing Needs — Thalamocortical Mechanisms Guiding Arousal and Attention
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗵, 𝗣𝗵.𝗗.
Adaptive Memory: How the Brain Uses Prediction to Shape How We Remember
Plus, vote for your favorite NeuroArt 2026 image, and enjoy NeuroPoster presentations by trainees, hands-on NeuroActvity booths and fun for all ages!
Hosted by @UCDavisCNS
#NeuroFest2026 #BrainAwarenessWeek
Image descriptions:
Image 1): Blue-toned brain graphic with “NeuroFest 2026,” event date, time and location.
Image 2): Portrait of Karen Zito against an orange background with talk title in UC Davis–branded layout.
Image 3): Portrait of Rishidev Chaudhuri outdoors with greenery in background; talk title displayed below.
Image 4): Portrait of W. Martin Usrey in a lab setting; talk title displayed below on navy UC Davis–branded graphic.
Image 5): Portrait of Charan Ranganath against a blurred outdoor background, with talk title on navy UC Davis–branded graphic.
🧠✨ Celebrate Brain Awareness Week at 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 — 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗻 @ucdavis on Saturday, March 7!
🎤 Explore the latest neural plasticity research from CNS core faculty and learn how the brain adapts while preserving function and memories across the lifespan.
Plus, vote for your favorite NeuroArt 2026 image, and enjoy NeuroPoster presentations by trainees, hands-on NeuroActvity booths and fun for all ages!
🔗 Learn more & register: neuroscience.ucdavis.edu/neurofest
#BrainAwarenessWeek
"There are only two certainties in life: death and forgetting...But with the following strategies — and a bit of effort — you can tackle some of life’s trickiest memory challenges."
I recently wrote an article for the @thetimes@faberbooks with some tips on tackling some of our most vexing #memory challenges in the New Year. Link in comments and also in linktree/bio. Don't forget to read it!
@ucdaviscenterforneuroscience
Jak tam czytelniczo wygląda u Was początek listopada?
📚Dlaczego pamiętamy? Odkrywanie sekretów pamięci, aby zachować to co ważne - Charan Ranganath
Książka wpadła w moje ręce w ramach propozycji recenzji od @wydawnictwohelion
Tytuł bardzo mnie zaciekawił, i muszę przyznać, że nie zawiodłam się. Książka to zbiór wiedzy naukowej popartej anegdotkami z życia. Autor zgrabnie miesza jedne i drugie dzięki czemu książka nie ma typowego wydźwięku podręcznika akademickiego.
Poza wiedzą na temat tego jak działa nasz mózg, jakie procesy zachodzą w nim gdy przyswajamy informacje, oraz jak to się dzieje, że jedno pamiętamy a drugiego nie znajdziemy tu też całą masę wskazówek dotyczącą lepszego zapamiętywania i zachowywania danych, ale bez typowego “z tą książką o niczym nie zapomnisz”
Jeśli liczycie na life hacki jak pamiętać wszystko, to ta książka Was zawiedzie. Tu mowa o tym jak działa pamięć a nie jak nie zapominać. Ale jeśli chcecie rozumieć i zaakceptować czasem zawodną pamięć - gorąco polecam bo to sporo dobrze usystematyzowanej wiedzy, z którą osobiście się wcześniej w takiej formie nie spotkałam.
@wydawnictwohelion dziękuję za egzemplarz do recenzji #współpracabarterowa
@thememorydoc thank you so much for w great book. I haven’t read anything tackling topic of memory from this angle. It is a very informative and refreshing way of presenting why we remember some things better whilst it’s ok to sometimes forget others.
#memory #forget #bookstagram #books #książka #książkara #czytambolubie #reading #instabook #instareads #read #myszaczyta #wyzwanie_zaczytanie #ksiazkanadzis #365dnizbibliotekarką #polishgirl
#kobietywswiecieksiazek #readmorebooks #mybookshelf #mykindle #reader #czytanietopasja #czytambolubię #ksiazki #ksiazkoholizm #bookish #booklover
