Over time, some memories are replaced by others, but why do people remember exactly what they remember? US scientists answered this question by analyzing more than 100 studies on episodic memory. The properties of human memory are among the main topics of modern research in psychology and neurobiology. The authors of one of the latest studies showed that in a dream the brain can not only process information, but also project the future by taking it into account, and another article explained how memories are preserved throughout life.

Experts from Rice University in the US have published a review of the literature on what, where and when people remember. The study, which analyzed how the content, location and time of an event affects memory, was published in the journal Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience. Scientists have found that people are more likely to remember things that are associated with strong emotions, have personal significance, and attract attention. These are the resonant events or details that the person focuses on.

It turned out that the place where the event took place, which would later become a memory, was important. A new situation “reflects” better in memory because, unlike the routine, it attracts more attention.

According to chronology, memories depend on both the moment in which the event occurred and the perception of time in general. For example, it is important how exactly people construct a sequence of events and recognize transitions between them. It may also be easier to remember events if they are broken down into separate sections.

“Memory is not a universal phenomenon. What one person remembers may not be obvious to another due to their unique history and cognitive priorities,” the authors of the article emphasized.

According to researchers, understanding why we remember some events better than others is important for both medicine and daily life. Memory in particular is often assessed based on standardized tests that were developed in specific cultural contexts and do not take into account people’s individual characteristics. Knowledge about specific factors that affect memory will transform such assessment methods and help combat cognitive decline and dementia more effectively.