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

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

In this fast-paced world, where information overload is a daily occurrence, it's no wonder that our memories are often fleeting. The science of forgetting tells us that our default mode is to forget, constantly and effortlessly. Norman Brown, a cognitive psychology professor researching autobiographical memory at the University of Alberta, explains that everyone forgets everything all the time. But what does this mean for our memories of the pandemic?

Our brain has a complex process for encoding, consolidating, and retrieving information. When we encounter new information, our brains encode it through changes in neurons in the hippocampus, a crucial memory center, and other areas like the amygdala for emotional memories. These changes create a physical memory trace called an engram. However, much of this information is lost unless it undergoes memory consolidation, which often happens during sleep. This consolidation process makes memories more stable and long-term.

One theory suggests that the hippocampus stores an index of where these cortical memory neurons are for retrieval, much like a Google search. During memory retrieval, the memory trace neurons in the hippocampus and cortex are reactivated. Our memories are centered around our life stories and the events that personally affected us the most. However, the more memories we have, the harder it becomes to capture and retain all of them. As we live more life, new memories interfere with older events, making them harder to recall.

Furthermore, the saliency of events plays a significant role in memory retention. New events are more salient and easier to remember because we are more likely to talk about them and rehearse them, repeatedly remembering and reconsolidating them. On the other hand, when events are uniform and lack distinctiveness, they become more challenging to recall. Our memories tend to put these uniform events together as one, resulting in unclear memories from those specific years.

Interestingly, as a society, many people don't want to hold onto their memories of the pandemic. Research suggests that people tend to view the future more positively than the past. This future-oriented positivity bias occurs because the future can be imagined in various ways, while the past is fixed. When we remember the past, we do so in the present, influenced by our current emotions, knowledge, and attitudes. This reality has direct implications for how we reflect on the pandemic and navigate the future.

However, if we want to preserve our pandemic memories and ensure they become a part of history, we need more than just personal recollections. History has the power to take our lives and turn them upside down, making them significant in the grand scheme of things. Without cultural artifacts like books, movies, statues, and museums, our memories of the pandemic could be consigned to the entropic dustbin of history. Similar to how communicative memories only last for a few generations, our memories may fade away if not preserved through collective means.

In conclusion, the science of forgetting reminds us that our memories are fragile and easily lost. The pandemic, with all its unique challenges and experiences, is no exception. However, there are actions we can take to ensure our memories endure:

1. Keep a journal: Writing down our experiences and emotions during the pandemic can be a powerful tool for preserving memories. Regularly documenting our thoughts and reflections allows us to revisit and solidify those memories in the future.

2. Share stories: Engage in conversations with friends, family, and loved ones about your experiences during the pandemic. By sharing stories, we reinforce our memories and create a collective narrative that can be passed on to future generations.

3. Support cultural preservation: Museums, archives, and other cultural institutions play a vital role in preserving our collective memory. Support these institutions by visiting, donating, or engaging in activities that promote the preservation of historical artifacts and stories.

While forgetting may be the default, we have the power to defy it by actively preserving our memories. Let's cherish our pandemic experiences and ensure that they become a part of our shared history.