Why do we forget things?
Everyone forgets something at some point during their life, and for many people, forgetfulness is a part of daily life. But why does the human…
Reasons why you forget things. (Shutterstock)
Everyone forgets something at some point during their life, and for many people, forgetfulness is a part of daily life. But why does the human brain forget things, even when it just processed the information a short time ago?
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The key to understanding how memory works is first understanding that there are two different ways the brain creates memories. The first, known as short-term memory, takes place as the day goes on and the brain processes everything around it. The second form of memory, known as long-term memory is where moments are stored in the brain and then recalled months or years later. Many times long-term memories are only able to be recalled when the person encounters a trigger, like a familiar image that reminds them of something from their childhood.
So what does that all have to do with why we forget things? It all has to do with they type of memory involved.
Why we forget things in short-term memory
Short-term memory is the place where most people acknowledge they have forgotten something, and this is because the brain is continually aware of everything going on around it. Discovery indicates that, to prevent an overload of information, the brain is selective about what it stores moment by moment, picking out only the things it deems are most important.
This means that if you walk into your house and set down your car keys at the same moment one of your children starts telling you about an important school event, it’s likely that your brain won’t acknowledge the fact you have put down your keys, even though you will need to know that information later. At that exact moment, the conversation takes priority and the brain doesn’t acknowledge much else.
This is what experts often refer to as improper coding within the brain, when it performs a function but dismisses it as unimportant.
Why do long-term memories often seem fractured? (Shutterstock)
Why we forget things in long-term memory
Unlike short-term memory, experts indicate the issues with long-term memory have more to do with recall rather than improper coding. Scientific American explains this means the memory is there but the individual is unable to consciously trigger it. Long-term memory often requires multiple stimuli such as a combination of a visual trigger as well as trying to consciously recall the event.
This is why long-term memories often seem fractured; you may remember playing with someone in kindergarten but you may not be able to recall his or her name 30 years later. This doesn’t mean the information isn’t in your brain, it just means you aren’t able to recall it fully because you haven’t used the correct mental trigger.
How memories can make us forget things
Of course, the reasons why we forget things aren’t that cut and dry. There are other things that can make a person forgetful, and one of those “other things” are memories themselves. Sometimes a long-term memory is strong enough to prevent a short-term memory from forming quickly. If you are introduced to a group of new people and are listening to their names, you may find it difficult to remember one of them if that person reminds you of someone else. You might find yourself accidentally calling that person by the name you already know. While short-term memory can override this issue, it may take longer than if a past recollection hadn’t been there to interfere.
And, of course, there are other things that can negatively impact memory. Medications can interrupt how the brain processes information, and the same effect can be seen with illicit drugs. Trauma to the brain can also make us forget things by damaging the regions associated with memory storage.
