Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — We’re living through the most photographed time in history. We’re taking more photos than ever before, about 20 every day. That’s more than seven thousand photos a year, but neuroscientists say our brains aren’t built to record everything. They remember what we pay attention to, and when our attention shifts to getting the perfect photo we may encode fewer details of the experience itself.
We take pictures, a lot of pictures! Our kids, our dogs, our vacations, and sometimes we never really see them again.
We’ve never had more ways to save a memory. But every memory begins with attention. Before the brain can store an experience, it has to notice it. And when we’re busy framing the shot, our attention may shift away from the moment itself.
Scientists call it the photo-taking impairment effect. When we focus on capturing a moment, we may pay less attention to living it.
Think about it, the last vacation, the last sunset, the last family reunion, were you participating in it or did you film it?
The goal isn’t to stop taking photos. It’s to stop letting the camera do all the remembering. Take one meaningful photo, put the phone away, be present and give your brain a chance to do what it was designed to do. And maybe, just maybe you’ll capture a memory that sticks.
Each day, people around the world share an estimated 14 billion photos on social media. And with smartphones expected to capture about 94 percent of all photos taken this year. Experts say the biggest challenge isn’t taking more pictures; it’s making sure the ones that matter don’t get lost in the camera roll.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor.
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