Think of one of your most cherished childhood memories. Pull it up and replay it in your mind. How clear is the memory? Can you trust it?
The science of how we create memories is fascinating. It’s constantly changing as is our understanding of how the human brain works. One thing we do know is that the way our brain remembers short and long term memories is different.
Long term memories are much more complex than short term. For our brains to remember something long term, we must literally build those memories into our brain synapses or consolidate the memory. Once this is done, we can recall the memory, though it may fade over time. Short term memories are not stored the same way, so they fade much faster.
So how can you consolidate a memory? Well, you can’t really. Science still doesn’t know exactly how well we can actually commit things to our long term memory or how we can recall that memory without changing it. The best way to remember something: make a record of it. The simple act of recording a memory by writing it down, taking a picture, making a movie, sharing it with others or using some other method will help your brain recall the memory better.
We may never understand just how our brain works. It’s a true wonder, and memory is one of the most important functions of our brain. Give yourself a boost and start recording the special moments that you want to remember. Your brain needs all the help it can get to remember!