Although our memory cannot remember the phone number we just read, the name of the person we met a few days ago, or even what we had for dinner last night. Have you ever wondered how we can remember something we haven’t done in years?
It seems that different kinds of memories are stored in different parts of our brain, and so are these memories what kind of memory do we have It opens a door for us.
long-term memory, declarative and procedural is divided in two.
Declarative memory can be recalled consciously and includes all real events in our lives. We don’t remember our procedural memory, and often don’t that we regularly consists of skills and actions.
It takes a long time for a routine or action to settle in long-term memory, but once it does, that action is ours. happens outside of our awareness and so we don’t need to focus too much on it.
For example, if we want to ride a bicycle, we must try to control several actions at the same time, such as maintaining balance, pressing the pedals and adjusting the position of the lever.
Again, with the same logic, we feel the need to focus all of our attention when we first try to learn how to drive. With this after learning and practicing cycling and driving Then we don’t need such a big focus.
Because all this if we do the necessary repetitions for our long-term memory it will be over. Over time, we realize that we can multitask during these rides, like chatting and singing along to our favorite song.
Another concept that comes into play at this point is the muscle memory we have.
Contrary to the name, the center of muscle memory, a kind of procedural memory, is not located in the muscles, but in the brain. At first, our brain works more actively to fulfill the desired task, but as exercise and this activity are repeated over time, less focus on successfully completing that task it needs.
Some researchers use the term muscle memory as “zombie agentsagents”. The reason for this is to refer to agents in our brain that can perform a certain task without us realizing it.
Imagine going to work regularly by car or bike every day, and when you leave one morning, you feel confused and distracted. When you get rid of the thoughts that momentarily bother your mind, that you drive to work in the usual way You will notice.
Basically, what comes into play here is that muscle memory can perform the driving and cycling, rather than just remembering the route.
Even if your mind is somewhere else You change lanes, honk your horn or increase or decrease your speed. In a nutshell, our point is that this form of memory doesn’t just evolve for tasks that we actively practice.
The longer we practice and repeat an action, the more firmly that action becomes imprinted in our memory, and even though many years have passed, these actions are remains in our permanent memory. When we go back, all of this remains as fresh as if it were yesterday.
Sources: Science ABC, Scientific American, Science Focus
BluTV and Hepsiburada Premium for 1 TL in the first month! No Cheaper