Memory

I have never had what I consider an excellent memory. I forget a lot. Where do memories go when you forget them?

First, take heart. Studies suggest that the human brain is wired to “forget information. The brain has finite memory banks for rote memorization of information, meaning that theoretically you could fill them up—not that many people do! It is thought to have almost endless storage ability for concepts and ideas. Some suggest that it is far better to memorize WHERE to get needed information than to try to rote-memorize the information itself. The brain seems programmed to forget irrelevant details and focus on information that will help the individual make good decisions in the real world. The process of “consolidation” involves the brain making a decision about what information stored in short-term memory needs to be transferred to long-term storage and which just needs to be purged.  More tomorrow.