In other words, our study shows that morally blaming a person can distort memory for the severity of his or her crime or misbehavior.

We're disappointed because we didn't deserve to lose this derby. It's a shame we lost a game like tonight's one just because of a small mistake. We played well, but unfortunately the result didn't go our way.

One week later the people who were told he was a jerk remembered a higher bill -- from 10 percent to 25 percent more than the bill actually was. Those who were told he had an emergency phone call remembered a slightly lower-than-actual bill.

One's sense of control is both a precursor and a consequence of age-related losses in memory. Our study shows the more you believe there are things you can do to remember information, the more likely you will be to use effort and adaptive strategies and to allocate resources effectively, and the less you will worry about forgetting.

It was enough just to sit there without words.

Just as eating contrary to the inclination is injurious to the health, so study without desire sports the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.