Where does a thought go when it’s forgotten?
Answers
Explanation:
Memories are links between brain cells. Sometimes we feel we have forgotten something (like where we put our keys) whereas we had never formed a memory of that - just held the thought in Working Memory for a few seconds.
To form a long-term memory, the links between the cells - synapses - have to go through a change called ‘long-term potentiation’. This happens after a number of spaced-repetitions. If we only get part-way through this process, then the synapse reverts to its original state and we feel we have forgotten.
Many teachers experience teaching something to their students and finding that they understand and can apply it that day - but the next week they have even forgotten they had the lesson.
Answer:
The hippocampus is thought to be the place where some memories are first stored. Over time, these memories may then be stored in other parts of the brain, namely the neocortex.