The Science of Forgetting: How Memories Fade and Why We're Losing Our Pandemic Memories

The Science of Forgetting: How Memories Fade and Why We're Losing Our Pandemic Memories

Our memories are delicate and fleeting, constantly in a state of flux. According to cognitive psychology professor Norman Brown, forgetting is the default mode of our brains. We forget things all the time, and it's a natural part of how our memory works. But why is it that we seem to be losing our pandemic memories so quickly?

To understand why our memories fade, we first need to understand how our brains encode, consolidate, and retrieve information. When we encounter new information, our brains encode it with changes in neurons in the hippocampus, a crucial memory center. These neurons create a physical memory trace known as an engram. However, if this information is not stored during memory consolidation, much of it is lost. Memory consolidation often occurs during sleep, making memories more stable and long-term.

One theory suggests that the hippocampus stores an index of where these cortical memory neurons are located for retrieval, similar to how Google search works. During memory retrieval, the memory trace neurons in the hippocampus and cortex are reactivated, allowing us to access and recall specific memories. However, even with this intricate process, our memories are not infallible.

Our memories are centered on our life stories and the events that have personally affected us the most. However, the more memories we accumulate, the harder it becomes to capture and retain every detail. New memories, simply by living our lives, interfere with older memories. New events are more salient and easier to remember because we talk about them and rehearse them repeatedly.

Additionally, memories of uniform events are harder to recall. As psychologist Suparna Rajaram explains, our memories tend to group similar events together, making it challenging to distinguish individual details. This phenomenon may explain why our memories of specific years, such as those during the pandemic, may become unclear and hazy.

As a society, many people may not want to hold onto their COVID-19 memories. We have a natural bias towards viewing the future more positively than the past. This future-oriented positivity bias occurs because the future is filled with possibilities, while the past is fixed. So, when it comes to remembering the pandemic, our present emotions, knowledge, and attitudes shape how we reflect on those memories.

But how can we ensure our memories are preserved for future generations? History plays a crucial role in preserving our collective memory, but it also requires personal involvement. As author Sonke Ahrens emphasizes in his book, "How to Take Smart Notes," writing down and translating information into our own words is key to long-term learning and understanding.

Ahrens discovered that simply collecting notes and ideas was not enough. They needed to interact and connect with each other. He developed a system called the slip-box, which became an external memory for developing thoughts, streamlining the writing process, and sparking new ideas. It was more than just a collection of notes; it was a network of interconnected thoughts.

The organization of ideas and notes is crucial for efficient and effective writing. It's not just about collecting information but also understanding it within its context. Highlighting or underlining text can be helpful in the moment, but without the context, its importance may fade over time. Ahrens suggests that notes should be relevant to what is important to you, not just related to what you're reading. The context in which you stumble upon a note again is vital for understanding its value.

In this bottom-up approach, connections between notes emerge naturally, allowing for a deeper understanding of the topic. Creating a note should be determined by its potential to add value to your network by connecting to existing ideas or having the potential to connect to future ones. It's about observing the differences between notes and letting order emerge organically.

So, how can we apply these insights to preserve our memories of the pandemic and ensure they don't fade away like forgotten thoughts in a slip-box?

1. Write It Down: To truly remember something, write it down. Capture your experiences, emotions, and thoughts in a journal or digital format. By documenting your memories, you create a tangible connection to the past.

2. Make Connections: Just as Ahrens emphasizes the importance of connecting ideas in note-taking, make connections between your pandemic memories. Reflect on how the events impacted your life, the emotions you felt, and the lessons you learned. By intertwining these memories, you create a more robust framework for preserving them.

3. Share and Preserve: Don't let your memories exist solely within your own mind. Share your experiences with others, whether through conversations, writing, or other forms of expression. By sharing, you contribute to the collective memory of society and ensure that the pandemic is not consigned to the dustbin of history.

In conclusion, our memories are fragile and susceptible to fading over time. Understanding how our brains encode, consolidate, and retrieve information helps us grasp why we may be losing our pandemic memories. By applying principles from note-taking and preserving personal experiences, we can take proactive steps to ensure these memories endure. So, let's write, connect, and share, ensuring that the pandemic remains a significant part of our individual and collective histories.