Table of contents:
- Human memory facts that might surprise you
- 1. Memory shapes personality
- 2. The hippocampus, the storehouse of all memories
- 3. Short term memory cannot be remembered for too long
- 4. Memory can be trained
- 5. Can remember something by smell or smell
- 6. Don't believe the amnesia scene in the movie
Having a memory or recollection is one of the important survival abilities that humans have. However, some things about this memory are still mysterious. Memory is also not just remembering and forgetting it again. To make it even more interesting, let's look at 5 facts on human memory that you should know as below.
Human memory facts that might surprise you
1. Memory shapes personality
This first human memory fact will have to do with your character and attitude. Yes, your memory will determine how you behave and respond to things.
For example, when you are faced with several choices, most of the decisions you choose will be influenced by past memories. So indeed, memory is one of the determining factors in the decision-making process.
Memories filled with memories from your childhood to the present will slowly shape who you are.
2. The hippocampus, the storehouse of all memories
The hippocampus is one of the important facts of human memory in the brain. It is like, the hippocampus is the storehouse of all the memories you have lived in. It is this part of the brain that organizes, stores neatly, and "brings out" memories when needed.
Because the two sides of the brain are exactly the same, the hippocampus can be found in both hemispheres. Damage to the hippocampus can block the ability to form new memories, known as anterograde amnesia.
As you get older, the hippocampus will lose its ability, so that when a person reaches their 80s, their memory may be lost as much as 20 percent of the brain.
3. Short term memory cannot be remembered for too long
Not everything that you have been through can be memorized and stored in the brain as a whole. Experts reveal that the brain is able to store about 7 short-term memories at once in 20 to 30 seconds. So it's only natural that you tend to forget to say what you want to say, or forget the name of someone you just met.
Of course, not all memories will become short-term memories, your brain will choose which ones to remember for a long time and which information can be 'discarded' back.
4. Memory can be trained
Memory if not trained will decrease the ability to remember. But not to worry, you can really train it.
Nowadays, there are many technology-based applications on your cellphone or laptop that remind you of things that are easy to forget, such as forgetting to put your house key, turning off the stove, or turning off the air conditioner.
You can also use memorization techniques. Try starting out by making a schedule of what you do everyday. Take notes and include in your schedule of activities. This way, the things you would normally forget are repeated or you memorize each day.
5. Can remember something by smell or smell
This fact of human memory is related to smells and smells. For example, when you smell rendang, you will remember that you often or even miss eating rendang during Eid. But most often, the brain will always remember someone through the smell of perfume that you smell or you mark.
This occurs because the olfactory nerve is located very close to the amygdala. The amygdala is an area of the brain connected to your experiences and memories that involve emotions. In addition, the olfactory nerve is very close to the hippocampus. Now, not infrequently if you want to remember something, you have to kiss to recognize the person or something you want to remember again.
6. Don't believe the amnesia scene in the movie
Almost every scene in the film makes us believe that amnesia is caused by hitting the head with something and the memory can return the second time we hit it. In fact, it's not that easy to make memories completely disappear and restore them again.
In fact, amnesia that causes a person to lose all past memories, even forgetting their identity is extremely rare. The most common causes of amnesia are trauma to something or taking drugs that damage the nervous system.
If a person is amnesic as a result of a traumatic event, then he will lose some memories related to the incident. Meanwhile, drugs only make a person temporarily lose their memory.
