insanetangerine - I don't know why it happens, but at least you are aware that it happens.

At work, there are a couple of "work arounds" you could try (everybody does these where I work)

Meetings - someone is responsible for taking minutes, sends the rough draft of the minutes (including who is responsible for what tasks) to the group members, group members send back changes/additional info, then the final meeting minutes are sent out.

If someone catches you in the hall - just tell them "I'm on my way to X (bathroom, meeting, or just out) and I know I will forget part of it before I get back to my office, please send me an e-mail".

Hope this helps - and thanks for posting your question. I have friend whose brain apparently "shorts out". She isn't aware that this happens to her. How did you come to the realization that you were 'loosing' parts of conversations?

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i have the same problem...

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I can tell when I'm "shorting out" because its like whoever I'm listening to suddenly started speaking a foreign language. I hear the person talking, but I don't understand what they're saying. If asked, I could repeat what was just said to me, but I'd basically just be repeating the sounds I heard. At the same time, I'd forget everything that had already been said. There's a good chance that your friend's unawareness of her "shorts" is cause for concern. I have experience treating several types of seizures, as well as nurse's training on the subject, and she may be having non-convulsive ones. I'd recommend having her consult her physician, just to be on the safe side.

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insane tangerine - thank you for your reply. I'll discuss it with my friend.

And, I'm sorry it has taken so long for me to acknowledge your reply -

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Where does this happen to you? In the workplace? At home? I'm asking because I have the same problem...when someone wants me to do something for them and is throwing a lot of information in my face, it helps me to take notes, and - this may seem rude, but it might help - I do not look at them, or anything particular at all...because I find that it is too much information for the brain - listening and paying attention, keeping my thoughts "lined up" and not being distracted by what I see and what I associate with it. So if it is possible, you could carry a notebook or a PDA around and jot down whatever it is that they want you to do.

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