Why forgetfulness is useful for the mind

Recent studies have shown that the ability of many people forget not only normal, but also very useful. Thanks to her, we become more intelligent.

Paul Frankland (Paul Frankland) and Blake Richards (Blake Richards) from the University of TorontoThe Persistence and Transience of Memory It believes that destination memory is not accurate information preservation for a long time. According to them, the main problem is the memory - is the optimization of the process of reasonable decision-making at the expense of conservation of important and unimportant removal.

Why do I need to forget

One of Frankland experiments carried out on mice revealed that when new brain cells form new connections overwrite old memories, making them virtually inaccessible.

This constant replacement of old with new memories can be very useful from an evolutionary point of view. For example, it allows us to adapt to new situations and to get rid of outdated and potentially relevant information reality.

Our brain helps us to forget the details of past events, keeping in mind the overall picture, which, according to researchers gives us the opportunity to summarize past experience and successfully apply it in the current situation.

What you need to remember

If you feel that you can not remember much more than in the past or what you need, you will not hurt to consult a doctor. If you forget some details, it may be an indicator of a healthy, properly functioning memory.

This is particularly relevant in the digital age, when we no longer need to keep in memory the phone numbers or that at any time can be found on the web.

Instead of many facts and figures, our brain is only the memories can store now that are really important for us.

Richards also recommends regularly cleaned using a memory physical exertionThat contribute to increase the number of neurons in the hypothalamus. If this is something forgotten, it means that it has already ceased to be important to you.