Prompt Cast
The Science Behind Childhood Amnesia: How Babies Form and Retain Memories
TLDR Contrary to previous beliefs, research has shown that infants as young as three months old are capable of forming memories, although these memories are not long-term. The brain creates synapses to encode memories, and the more a memory is thought about, the stronger it becomes.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Being born is impossible as far as we know, so anyone who claims to remember it is lying.
03:45
Historically, it was believed that infants couldn't form memories until a certain age, but in the past 20 years, researchers have started to look into childhood amnesia, previously known as infantile amnesia, which is the inability to remember early childhood experiences.
07:00
Children as young as three months old can form memories, but these memories don't stick around as long term and we are also born with the ability to form unconscious memories.
10:09
The brain creates synapses to encode memories, which are then categorized and filed away like on a computer, and the more you think about a memory, the stronger it becomes.
13:19
Babies are capable of encoding memories, as shown by a study where they learned to make a mobile move by kicking their legs.
16:23
Babies gradually develop memory and have both implicit and explicit memory, with language development being closely tied to memory formation.
19:54
Preschool-age kids can explain sequential order, but this is different from having a timeline of their life, which is crucial for developing a sense of self and personal identity.
23:07
Kids who nap more often are able to retain memories of a made-up language better than kids who don't nap as often.
Categories:
Society & Culture
