Do you remember what you did on Thursday 6 weeks ago?
Humans have a tendency to forget things. We forget if we turned off the stove, the keys , birthdays, and even people’s names. Forgetting is frequently viewed as a weakness in our mental abilities. But what if forgetting is a necessary part of our brains’ functioning rather than a sign of failure?
Our memory is selective, and our brains are not designed to retain every aspect of our experiences. Imagine trying to remember every sensory element of your day, such as the colour of every passing car, the faces of people on the street, or even the smell of coffee from every café. Our working memory can only store so much information. By removing irrelevant data, we make room for what is more important. This is known as synaptic pruning, and it occurs when our brain removes no longer productive connections between neurones.
Active forgetting isn’t a flaw; it’s how our brain stays functional. the brain actively works to suppress retrieval of unwanted memories. On the cognitive side, there is evidence that both voluntary and involuntary processes (referred to as “intentional” and “incidental” forgetting) contribute to active forgetting[1]. Active forgetting has been reported in several psychopathologies, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Hermann Ebbinghaus, a German psychologist, was among the first to examine the mechanisms of forgetfulness in 1885. Ebbinghaus conducted a series of studies on himself, memorising lists of three-letter nonsense syllables (combinations of two consonants with a vowel in between). He used nonsense syllables to prevent depending on prior knowledge or associations in his memory, guaranteeing that he was evaluating pure recall.
Ebbinghaus tested his ability to recall these lists after various periods of time. He developed the Forgetting Curve based on his findings, which states that forgetting occurs immediately after learning, with a rapid fall before gradually levelling off.
Around the same time, Sigmund Freud developed his own unique take on forgetfulness[2]. Freud proposed that humans may intentionally forget unpleasant or traumatic memories, pushing them deep into the unconscious mind—a process he termed repression. Freud’s theory of repression claimed that people suppress undesirable thoughts and feelings in order to protect themselves emotionally.
These connections form networks known as engrams, which control how memories are stored. The brain uses specialised cells, such as glial cells, to support the neurones in these networks, ensuring that they function properly.
Because we accumulate so many memories during our lives, the brain need an efficient mechanism to manage them. One way the brain accomplishes this is through a process known as memory consolidation, which strengthens and permanently stores essential memories. Furthermore, the brain possesses systems that actively remove irrelevant memories. Special cells, known as “forgetting cells,” release a neurotransmitter called dopamine onto memory networks[3]. This stimulates pathways that break down these connections by changing the structure of neurones and synapses. This activates pathways that alter the structure of neurones and connections, causing memories to fade away.
Motivated forgetting, as one might guess from the name, is the idea that people intentionally forget memories—negative memories specifically. This was proposed by Friedrich Nietzsche, who got the idea from expanding on Sigmund Freud’s concept of repression. Repression is a defence mechanism in which people instinctively suppress or block memories that are too traumatic or distressing in order to protect their mental health.
In 1914, Edward Thorndike proposed the hypothesis of trace decay based on Herman Ebbinghaus’ memory study. Thorndike proposed that our ability to remember declines with time. When we learn anything new, a neurochemical shift known as a “memory trace” occurs in our brain. If this memory is not recalled or repeated, the trace will fade and eventually disappear. This implies that time has an important influence in forgetting. The longer the interval between when an event occurs and when one attempts to recall it, the more probable the memory may fade.
John A. Bergstrom developed this concept in 1892. He had participants sort two decks of cards into piles as part of an experiment. When one of the piles moved, it became more difficult for participants to sort correctly. Bergstrom concluded that this interference was due to the brain’s limited capacity for processing information. Therefore, the former set of rules interfered with learning the new one causing memories to interfere and forgetting to occur.
There are two types of interference that can affect memory retrieval:
The retrieval failure theory was first proposed by Endel Tulving in 1974. According to him, forgetting happens not because information disappears from our long-term memory but rather because we are unable to access or recall it when necessary. E.g. “tip of the tongue” phenomenon.
There are two primary causes for retrieval failure:
In 2001, psychologist Daniel Schacter, a well-known memory researcher, found seven frequent ways our memories fail us. He divided the failures into three categories: forgetting, distortion, and intrusion[5].
Emotional fading occurs when our brains let go of emotionally charged memories over time. This is why the pain of unwanted memories fades over time, allowing us to move forward and avoid becoming trapped in the past. Furthermore, by forgetting old patterns and habits, we may adjust to new situations and difficulties. Flexibility is essential for both learning and invention. If we remembered every detail of our previous failures, we could be discouraged from trying again or experimenting with different solutions. Forgetting can boost our mental health.
It is possible to learn through forgetting. Such learning occurs when specific memories of similar occurrences combine to form general knowledge. To gain general knowledge, we overlay information from comparable events, such as superimposed pictures, losing specifics while learning more about the type of event in general[4].
That’s why we occasionally mix up what happened at specific moments.
When forgetting becomes excessive and interferes with daily functioning and causes distress it can be a cause of a disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological illness that gradually becomes worse, causing severe confusion, memory loss, and cognitive impairment. Alzheimer’s disease causes the destruction of the brain networks that store and retrieve memories, not merely memory loss[1].
Schizophrenia patients frequently experience memory intrusions, or the unintentional recall of unwanted or upsetting memories. Impairments in cognitive control characterise this illness, making it challenging to block out undesired memories or stimuli. This inability to control memory and cognition might worsen psychotic symptoms including hallucinations and delusions.
In order to improve memory retention one can:
Repetition and retrieval practice: By repeating and actively recalling knowledge, we can help it cling to our long-term memory. This is why studying and rewriting materials is more beneficial than passive reading. Sleep aids with remembering. A good night’s sleep is essential for storing memories. This happens as a result of the brain processing and storing information as you sleep, reinforcing the connections between neurones. Practicing mindfulness can help focus; Individuals can increase their memory development and recall by exercising mindfulness. This means being completely present and focused on the job at hand, which can improve concentration and retention of knowledge.
In a world that continuously encourages us to remember more and depicts forgetfulness as a significant weakness, it’s OK to acknowledge forgetting as a vital element of how our brains work. Forgetting causes our brain to declutter, allowing us to focus on what is important while also freeing us from the weight of the past. Understanding the art of forgetting allows us to accept it as a necessary component of a healthy and balanced mental life.
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