The Science of Forgetting and the Inevitable Turn in Human History

The Science of Forgetting and the Inevitable Turn in Human History

In a world that is constantly evolving, it's no surprise that we often forget things. According to cognitive psychology professor Norman Brown, forgetting is the default state of our brains. Our memories go through three phases - encoding, consolidation, and retrieval. When we encounter new information, our brains encode it, creating a physical memory trace known as an engram. However, much of this information is lost unless it is stored during memory consolidation, which often occurs during sleep.

One theory suggests that the hippocampus, an important memory center, stores an index of where these memory neurons are for retrieval. This is similar to how Google search works, where the hippocampus and cortex reactivate the memory trace neurons during retrieval. Our memories are centered around our life stories and the events that have personally affected us the most.

Interestingly, the more memories we have, the harder it becomes to capture all of them. New memories interfere with older ones, making them harder to recall. Additionally, memories of uniform events are often blended together, making them unclear in our minds. This is especially true for the years affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, as they were filled with similar events and emotions.

As a society, many people don't want to hold onto their Covid memories. We tend to view the future more positively than the past because the future can be imagined in many ways, while the past is fixed. Remembering the past is influenced by our current emotions, knowledge, and attitudes. This has direct implications for how we look back on the pandemic and how we navigate the future.

When it comes to preserving our memories, cultural artifacts play a significant role. Books, movies, statues, and museums help preserve our collective history and ensure that memories are passed down through generations. Without these artifacts, memories can easily fade away, consigned to the dustbin of history. Just as no one at the beginning of the printing press or the fossil fuel era could predict the changes that would occur, we struggle to predict the outcomes of radical technological changes.

Existential risks, such as those posed by artificial intelligence, are often distant possibilities. It is challenging to predict the future accurately, and the more we discuss it, the more pessimistic we become. Destruction is easier to imagine than creation, leading to a bias towards pessimism. However, it's important to remember that all possibilities are distant, and the future remains uncertain.

As we navigate these challenges, there are actionable steps we can take to preserve our memories and embrace the future. Here are three pieces of advice:

1. Record your experiences: Whether through writing, photography, or other forms of documentation, make an effort to record your experiences and emotions. This will help solidify your memories and ensure that they are not lost over time.

2. Share your stories: Talk to others about your experiences and encourage them to share theirs. By engaging in conversations and discussions, we can collectively preserve our memories and create a shared narrative of the past.

3. Support cultural preservation: Contribute to the preservation of cultural artifacts, such as books, movies, and museums. These institutions play a vital role in safeguarding our collective memory and ensuring that future generations can learn from the past.

In conclusion, the science of forgetting reminds us that memories are fragile and easily lost. As we face the inevitable turn in human history, marked by technological advancements and existential risks, it's crucial to find ways to preserve our memories and navigate the future with optimism. By taking actionable steps and supporting cultural preservation, we can ensure that our experiences are not consigned to oblivion.