Science Discovers Why We Forget First Years Of Our Lives

[Economy 52,834]

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/nypost.com/2018/03/08/this-may-be-why-you-cant-remember-the-first-years-of-life/amp/

 

This is relatively new so I still posted but the article came out months ago I only saw it now but it was still in 2018

 

It seems like babies and toddlers may not forget their memories simply because the memories are weaker but rather because forgetting is necessary for brain development

 

As young children's brain develops, the first brain cells and neural connections appear to breakdown to be replaced with with a greater number of stronger neural connections

 

Most children at age 5.5 could remember 80% of their major memories made at age 3 but only 2 years later by age 7.5 they only remember 40% or they would have forgotten half those memories in those 2 years

 

On average a 6 month old can retain most memories for a day, at 9 months they can retain memories for a month and by age 2 for an entire year

[MyQueen 2,409]

I am glad that I dont remember....I have enough bad memorys as a child for the years that I do remember

[That J 12,166]

I always assumed you couldnt remember something like your own birth because it was so traumatic.

Imagine being warm and comfortable and snug for months in this dark space and then BAM you slide thru this space that feels like its squeezing you to death, theres this wild heavy brightness blinding you, weird hands are on you and its loud and bright and different and your like OMG...

It's interesting knowing one of the most traumatic events ever is the very first thing we go thru on this earth.  

[mister max 18,480]

I always felt weird when I didnt remember those years  like my family would tell stories about me doing stupid stuff when I was a toddler and I was always shooketh and fake-laughing out of awkwardness sksksksks

[Economy 52,834]

28 minutes ago, That J said:

I always assumed you couldnt remember something like your own birth because it was so traumatic.

Imagine being warm and comfortable and snug for months in this dark space and then BAM you slide thru this space that feels like its squeezing you to death, theres this wild heavy brightness blinding you, weird hands are on you and its loud and bright and different and your like OMG...

It's interesting knowing one of the most traumatic events ever is the very first thing we go thru on this earth.  

But different people react differently to trauma. If that was the reason at least a few individuals would remember their birth and it also doesn't explain other non-traumatic memories that no one remembers before 2.5 to 3 years old

 

My earliest memory personally I was 2 and a half. It's when I came visit my family in Canada when I still lived in Portugal and I remember being filmed on the stairs

[Clip 5,100]

I always thought this was super interesting!

I have a pretty good memory myself, though, so I luckily still remember some stuff from age 3 pretty clearly. I barely remember anything before that though

[Economy 52,834]

6 minutes ago, Clip said:

I always thought this was super interesting!

I have a pretty good memory myself, though, so I luckily still remember some stuff from age 3 pretty clearly. I barely remember anything before that though

The average person starts remembering a few trace memories at 3 and some as early as 2.5

 

My first memory I wasn't quite 3 yet

[sarahb 17,185]

Yeah being premature I'm pretty glad I don't remember spending months in an incubator 

[Helxig 45,327]

I feel like it's also a coping mechanism.

Imagine being able to remember what that was like   shitting and vommitting and not being able to walk or talk. Your parents wiping your ass and bathing you. Those would make for some effed up memories.

[Glamourpuss 29,080]

On 11/1/2018 at 8:52 PM, That J said:

I always assumed you couldnt remember something like your own birth because it was so traumatic.

Imagine being warm and comfortable and snug for months in this dark space and then BAM you slide thru this space that feels like its squeezing you to death, theres this wild heavy brightness blinding you, weird hands are on you and its loud and bright and different and your like OMG...

It's interesting knowing one of the most traumatic events ever is the very first thing we go thru on this earth.  

Yeah but the baby doesn't always wake up until it's had a pat on the bottom and then starts to cry. So it might not be aware. 

[That J 12,166]

11 minutes ago, PussyGlam said:

Yeah but the baby doesn't always wake up until it's had a pat on the bottom and then starts to cry. So it might not be aware. 

Yea but even after that it is aware. We totally block that out tho.  I dont know, I just think its fascinating. It would have to feel like you are being broken into and robbed...until you are in safe loving arms and then BAM the connection is made and the life journey truly begins.  

Its fascinating.  

[Economy 52,834]

11 hours ago, That J said:

Yea but even after that it is aware. We totally block that out tho.  I dont know, I just think its fascinating. It would have to feel like you are being broken into and robbed...until you are in safe loving arms and then BAM the connection is made and the life journey truly begins.  

Its fascinating.  

I think the articles explanation is more plausible tbh

 

If it was simply a matter of blocking out tramatic events people would have different ages in which they'd start remembering things and us have individual cases where some would remember earlier in life but no one does

 

There's also the tests that show how a 6month baby can only remember most stuff for a day.... It wouldn't be trauma causing that

[Earthling 3,701]

and here I am not being able to remember what I had for breakfast yesterday 

[homomo 23,883]

My earliest memory is around 2 years old. I can remember a lot of things from 4 and onwards.

[Taide 5,789]

My earliest memory is probably when I was 6 years old. Anything below that is unknowable for me and it feels as if I didn't ever live those first 5 years in my life.