At ITAPA Health & Care 2025, Boris Nikolai Konrad – neuroscientist, memory expert, and world record holder in memorization – will take the stage. In his lecture, he will focus on how modern technologies affect our ability to remember information and how we can keep our minds sharp in the digital age.

In this interview, he reveals why training our brains is essential, managing information overload effectively, and whether we can stay smarter than artificial intelligence. Read on to discover how to use technology to your advantage while also strengthening your memory!

Q: You first became interested in various memory improvement techniques out of personal curiosity, and as a student, you benefited greatly from them. What fascinated you so much about them that this interest became the central focus of your professional career?

A: I looked into memory improvement techniques as a student and was amazed by how well they worked. Also, it was really fun to do! I did not experience that with learning beforehand so much. I quickly heard about memory sports, competition where people try to see who can memorize the most in a short period of time and was fascinated by how fast I could improve.

A few years later, after studying physics and computer science, I was curious, why little was known about what is happening in your brain, when you improve your memory. Basically, why does it work so well? So I was happy to take an opportunity to investigate that question as a neuroscientist at the Max Planck Institute in Munich, Germany. Since that research proved to be fruitful, I could continue it after my PhD and for 11 years am researching superior memory at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour in the Netherlands.

However, I always feel science needs to be communicated, shared, in particular if it is so useful and applicable as research on memory improvements. So I build my own career being researcher half of my time and a speaker, presenting both scientific insights as well as highly applicable memory techniques.

Q: Modern technology undoubtedly makes our lives easier. We use it almost constantly—whether because we want to keep up with the times or simply because it has become a necessity. In your view, in what ways does it negatively impact us? Or, in other words, how do we harm ourselves by relying on it always and everywhere?

A: Our brain needs moments of pause. The so called Default Mode Network in our brain gets active, when we do not focus on a task, in it has very important functions. Today, too many people hardly ever give their brain those needed moments of rest. If they have a break from work, they jump in social media. When they get home, the play video games or scroll social media or messengers for hours.

Additionally, if we assume to always have information at hand digitally, we remember less of it. Quite often that is fine and even handy, we do not need to memorize codes, patient numbers etc.

We should realize though, that our brain only gets better - or just stays at its current level until high ages - if we keep using and even challenging it. So don't look up everything, use your memory as well, to keep it sharp and become smarter yourself.

Q: We are surrounded by an overwhelming amount of information. There is an endless stream of data we need to remember, and something is always demanding our attention and focus. How can we manage all of this? How can we make optimal use of our brains? How do we cope with the flood of data without losing our minds? How can we maximize our mental potential while taking advantage of what modern life offers—and at the same time maintain peace of mind and live a fulfilling life?

A: A big question and I will try to give more details hints and answers in my presentation at ITAPA Health & Care. The central theme will be: We can manage this challenge, if we make the best of both Worlds: Use modern technology to your advantage, while also using your brain to its fullest potential and become smarter every day.

Memory techniques can be a very valuable tool for the actually to be remembered information and the information overload. Retrieval Practise allows us to choose, what gets our headspace for longer. And mindfulness techniques should be in everyone's mental repertoire to keep your focus and energy up and give your brain the needed time to consolidate.

When using modern technology, we should have a strategy in mind, how we can best use it to elevate our performance instead of replacing our thinking. We can use apps and alerts, to limit harmful usage behaviors and at the same time have great digital strategies, to find information faster, learn more and be both productive and focussed when we need it.

Q: Among other things, you are an expert in artificial intelligence, so let me conclude with one final question: Will we be able to stay smarter than AI?

A: Yes, if....

Yes, if we keep becoming smarter ourselves! If we keep learning, even learning from AI, and use our brains greatest skill: To adapt, to learn, to grow.