forgetting

We take in so much information, why do we forget it?

 Current estimates are that the brain takes in about 11 million bits of sensory data per second and can decode about 10,000 bits per second. The conscious thought portion of the brain can decode only about 50 bits of information per second. The brain seems programmed to forget irrelevant details and focus on what it thinks will help you make good decisions in the real world. The brain appears to have unlimited capacity for concepts and ideas, but limited long-term memory banks for rote memorization. Some suggest that it is better to memorize WHERE to get needed information than to try to rote-memorize all the information.