How strange it would be to remember that moment when we opened our eyes to life, wouldn’t it? We can’t remember any of the precious moments like crying because of the pain caused in our lungs from the first oxygen we breathe, being placed on our mother’s lap and tasting the taste of breast milk for the first time. However, we have these unique moments. Shouldn’t it leave deep marks?

Never forget our childhood memories We remember the ages of 2-3 very rarely, and the ages of 4-7 very vaguely. The scientific name of this condition is “indefatigable amnesia” or “child amnesia”. The answer to this curious question is hidden in the complex workings of the brain.

One of the first possibilities that comes to mind is that these memories cannot be recalled because they happened so far in the past.

A scene from the movie The Butterfly Effect (the character can remember the uterine state)

However, a 10-year-old child cannot even remember 9 years ago while a 30-year-old can easily remember what he experienced 9 years ago for many years. good It has nothing to do with the distant past.

Actually this situation most important reason, Babies’ memories have an expiration date. Memory does not develop sufficiently during these ages. Our ability to remember things gradually increases during childhood. In an experiment; It has been found that 6-month-old babies can remember the learned behavior for 24-48 hours, 9-month-olds 1-3 months and 2-year-olds more than 1 year.

in babies implicit reminder It is more effective, which falls within the domain of procedural memory, allowing simple tasks to be performed. For example, we remember how to walk through implicit memory.

The low number of neurons in the brains of babies also influences this situation.

The brain of a newborn is the brain of an adult. as much as a quarter. At the age of 2 this percentage increases to three quarters. Due to this growth, neurons develop and new connections are created in the brain.

is located in our brains sea ​​Horse, It plays a decisive role in shaping our knowledge about our lives. The “dentate gyrus”, which is an important part of the hippocampus in the early years of our lives, quickly creates new neurons. These fresh neurons integrate into hippocampal circuitry.

The production of neurons continues into adulthood, but as we age, their production decreases. When newly generated neurons integrate into hippocampal circuits to form new connections, existing ones memory networks are damaged. Disruption of memory networks also leads to the loss of childhood memories.

The work of neuroscientists Paul W. Frankland and Sheena A. Josselyn has confirmed that the brain circuitry that stores memories in childhood is hampered by the rapid growth of neurons.

The process by which neurons are produced as babies grow. neurogenesis slows down. In this way, the hippocampus comes into balance and memories are better preserved.

According to scientist Paul W. Frankland; Most of what we experience in our lives is actually: too ordinary to remember are things. In order for an adult’s memory to be healthy, it is important that these many unnecessary and mundane memories are erased, as well as the function of remembering things. Sometimes forgetting can be much more beneficial to our memory.

Do you want to remember your childhood memories? Even your memories in the womb?

Sources: National Library of Medicine, Nature NeuroScience, Outstanding Evidence, Society for Research in Child Development, The University of Queensland