Selective forgetting when searching for or performing an action can be disconcerting, but it is a natural phenomenon in the functioning of our mind.
Our brain it’s a organ amazing, but its complexity implies certain shortcomings. The memoryin particular, is susceptible to certain errors and limitations. For example, him momentary oblivion It is an intriguing and common phenomenon. And while it can be frustrating, it has deep roots in the way our heads work.
Brain, attention and memory
He brain It is constantly processing information and when we embark on a specific task, such as searching for something or doing something specific, the focus is on that goal. However, during the process, other distractions may arise, temporarily interrupting the original train of thought.
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Why don’t we remember where the keys are?
Saul Martínez-Hortaneuropsychological in the Sant Pau Hospital and director of the Neuropsychopathology Unit of the Center for Neurocognitive Diagnosis and Intervention of Barcelona, Spainpublished a book related to this topic called “Where are the keys?“.
The author maintains that “this type of errors, like entering the kitchen and not knowing what we were going to do, happen in relation to a type of memory or amnesic process that it’s called prospective memory and that, like other forms of memory errors, in most cases they have an absolutely benign and deeply mediated by attentional component“.
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“Normally, what makes us forget what we should do is the system saturation and the distraction mediated by another event,” he added.
What is the “Threshold Effect”?
Two other studies – one carried out in 2011 by the University of Notre Dameand another carried out in 2016 by the Knox College of Illinois– concluded that these small memory leaks greatly interfere with the simple act of go through a door. This is what is known as Doorway Effecttranslated as Threshold Effect.
The concept is that at brain it’s easier for you gather information and remember at the same point where he first encoded that memory. Which means that if we leave the room, it will be more difficult for him. remember our original idea.
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How to avoid momentary forgetfulness?
Although selective forgetting is a common phenomenonexist strategies to minimize its impact on daily life. Write down tasks, use visual or verbal reminders, practice concentration as well as taking a moment to reflect before changing activities, they can be useful to counteract these momentary forgetfulness.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
