Finally moved in and my computer is working.
Today's post is about a scientific study which was performed at my college which involved theater. The study was conducted by a friend of mine who is very good at theater and acting; if a little rusty at conducting research(it's alright, look past it). The study went something like this:
He approached our acting class telling us that he was doing research on memory. A few months after we signed up each those who signed up were contacted individually and given meeting times. None of us were to know of any of the other students' involvement. Due to scheduling it just so happened that the study took place during the last week of classes. The study was three days(m,w,f) all around 4:00. I was given half an hour to memorize a good paragraph of monologue, then a ten minute break, and a final ten minutes to prepare before performing t from memory as best I could. I was given one chance to start over each day. Each day was a different monologue. After the test I was told it was actually to examine the effects of environment on memory. The break 10 minute break I received was the most crucial information. What is wrong with this picture?
OK, so after I finished the experiment I informed the person conducting the experiment that there were some issues with his test.
1. The test was conduced during finals. This assumes that stress directly effects the ability for someone to memorize things, or at least concentrate.
2. Each of the monologues were different. I understand that this was done because we couldn't use the same script each time(it would be easier each time); however, it also introduced a few variables I assume would impact the study.
2. A. Each of the monologues had different styles of writing. Some were used literary devices such as alteration. I suspect that alliteration was very beneficial as a tool for specific accurate memorization; but that it also made it more difficult to form a general memorization.
2. B. Each of the monologues registered on a different emotional level with me. I suspect that emotion and memory are strongly linked. This thought is based on an interview with a man named Bob Milne. Basically the guy has the memory of a supercomputer when it comes to music; and he attributes it do some emotions he associates with music("http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blog/2011/jul/26/4-track-mind/).
2.C. Going along with B, I suspect that the different speaking styles of the monologues and how closely they resembles that of the actor was an underplayed factor.
2. D. As I was memorizing the scripts I noticed that, more or less, the scripts were basically divided in three ways: the first was all together with no line space, the second was in two paragraphs, and the third was roughly in three paragraphs.
3. Another issue that seemed important to me is the issue of the diet I had. Monday and Tuesday I ate as i usually do. Friday however, just a little before I went to the study I had had a cup of coffee. I suspect that coffee has a negative effect on a persons ability to memorize information. On an unrelated note, I suspect it has a positive effect on mood and work performance after material has been learned.
4. Aside from the fact that it was finals, I think a large factor is that the studies were conducted one after the other (more or less). I think that the brain is basically a muscle. I know that for myself I have had some very limited damage to the part of my brain dedicated to short term memory. At the end of the third day, I could actually feel the area of my brain which was exhausted. (Of course I'd need a doctor to back up that claim, but I'm pretty sure that if I indicated where I felt the pain it would match up with the area of the brain responsible for short term memory.)
Unfortunately, based on these problems the study done by my colleague is pretty useless. EXCEPT! Now that I've picked it apart, I can go about trying to support each of the claims I made. A task I intend to do through the course of the year right here on this blog. Of course I will need time to find information to support the claims, and even after that is found; I may still want to apply the data to the realm of theater to see if it still proves true.
If you would like to help with this task please leave a comment. It would be most appreciated(though not expected). If not, stay tuned.
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