Attitudes About Learning May Affect Your Memory

A series of experiments by Columbia researchers show that people who believe that intelligence can be acquired through dedication and hard work have better memories than people who think smart people are just born that way.

According to Columbia psychology professor Jennifer Mengels, those who believe in the acquisition of intelligence are likely to be "flexible learners" who tend to take a less superficial and more engaged and motivated approach to acquiring knowledge.

In experiments, these learners were shown to remember 8 percent more answers to a memory test than peers who believed in set intelligence. Brain scans of the flexible learners also showed more activity in the frontal and left posterior regions of the brain, suggesting they were more likely to remember the information longer.

Read more: Adjust Your Attitude to Boost Your Memory