The Science of Forgetting & How to Avoid It

 

Why do we forget things?

The brain is constantly taking in information—every sound we hear, word we read, etc. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, the brain filters out what it considers "unimportant." This is selective memory–the brain stores what seems useful or emotionally significant and forgets the rest.

The Role of the Hippocampus

The most important brain structure involved in storing memories is the hippocampus. This structure is like a filter for memories–it helps to decide which experiences get transferred from short-term to long-term memory based on importance.

Attention

Before your brain can store information, it needs to pay attention and encode the information. That’s why multitasking during studying can make you forget what you just learned. Without focus, information never makes it to long-term storage in the first place, which could be the primary reason you do not remember the material you studied.

The Pros of Forgetting

Forgetting can be extremely frustrating when you know you need to remember specific information, but forgetting is important for human function. If you could remember every single thing that you’ve ever heard, seen, or done—it would be more harmful than productive. Forgetting helps the brain stay organized by keeping only what it thinks we need.

Avoid Forgetting

While it is not possible to stop forgetting entirely, there are ways that can help your brain hold onto information longer. Of course, studying the information is necessary to remember something, but there is one thing that can make studying much more productive–MAKE IT MATTER TO YOU. This can be done by connecting what you're learning to your own life or interests, because your brain is more likely to remember things it finds meaningful.