Forgetting Trivia
Q: Why is it we so quickly forget things like what we had for lunch yesterday or other memories from a relatively short time ago?
A: The reasons we forget some things and remember others, even when both bits of information seem to be similarly trivial, aren’t always obvious or easily understood. In general, though, it comes down to a “use it or lose it” dynamic. If information, such as what you have for lunch, isn’t repeated, thought about, written down, etc., you’re bound to forget a lot about that lunch within hours, let alone days. It’s not efficient for the brain to hold on to every shred of information and experience, so to make room for new memories, old ones (and often relatively new ones) have to go. If you’re worried about not immediately remembering a recent meal you had or a movie you watched, you’re not alone. It’s a phenomenon that affects people of all ages and all levels of cognitive health.
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