And yet we often have moments where old and seemingly forgotten memories pop back into mind.
Researchers are realizing that the context in which memories are created is crucially important in remembering them later.
Lets start with learning.
It is well established that learning in the brain happens by a process of association.
If A and B occur together, they become associated.
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What is the context?
As a consequence, each memory is associated with different states of context.
This similarity between contexts is important when it comes to retrieving memories.
During memory search, yourcurrent mental contextisyour set of search terms.
Simple but deep
These mechanisms are simple, but the implications are profound.
Because your mental context is always changing, your mental context will be most similar to recently experienced memories.
This explains why its harder to remember older events.
But, of course, older memories arent permanently forgotten.
The happiest days of your life, right?
This phenomenon isnt limited to physical locations.
This is because your mood and emotions also comprise your mental context.
Experiments haveconfirmedthat memory is enhanced when your current mood matches the mood in which you learned the information.
This theory is supported by the fact thatmemory for new material is better when you rest after learning.
Time spent resting may give the brain a chance to consolidate new memories.
All part of the process.
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However, contextual-binding theory can alsopotentially explain this benefit.
This also explains why rest is also beneficialbefore learning, as well as after.
This article is republished fromThe ConversationbyAdam Osth, Senior Lecturer,University of Melbourneunder a Creative Commons license.
