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⚡ Brain & Cognition
How good is your memory?
Test working memory, recall and recognition.
Rate how often each applies: 1 (never) to 5 (daily).
1I walk into a room and forget why I went there.
2I forget people's names within minutes of meeting them.
3I can recall phone numbers or addresses from memory.
4I forget where I put my keys, phone, or wallet.
5I remember things I read or studied well.
6I have to re-read paragraphs because I didn't absorb the information the first time.
7I forget appointments or events unless I set reminders.
8I can remember detailed conversations from weeks ago.
9I forget what I was about to say mid-sentence.
10I have trouble following multi-step instructions without writing them down.
Understanding everyday memory
Memory complaints are extremely common — but rarely indicate serious problems. The Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ, Sunderland 1983) and Prospective-Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) measure real-world memory failures.
Score interpretation (higher = more forgetful)
- 10-18: Excellent memory — you retain and recall information well
- 19-28: Average — normal everyday forgetfulness
- 29-38: Below average — frequent memory lapses
- 39-50: Significant memory concerns — consider evaluation
Memory facts
- The "doorway effect" (item 1) is real — passing through doorways causes forgetting (Radvansky 2011)
- Working memory capacity averages 4±1 items (Cowan 2001), not Miller's 7
- Sleep is critical: memory consolidation happens during slow-wave and REM sleep
- Smartphones have caused "digital amnesia" — 71% can't recall their partner's phone number
- Memory peaks at age 25 and gradually declines — but retrieval strategies compensate
Sources: Sunderland (1983, EMQ), Cowan (2001), Radvansky (2011, doorway effect), Kaspersky Digital Amnesia Study.