The human brain has an incredible capacity to store memory - but not all of that information is accessible at once. Some memories come to mind almost automatically, while others take more effort to recall. So what’s the cause of this, and how can we combat it?
A recent study estimated that the human brain can store up to 2.5 million gigabytes of data - that’s about the same as a mind-blowing 5000 iPhones. But a number of factors in our daily lives can impact our memory efficiency, meaning some are more prone to interference than others. For example, it’s incredibly easy to throw your short-term memory off track. The problem? We live in a very distracting modern world. From bumping into your neighbour while grocery shopping, to an incessant flow of emails, text messages and phone calls: when our brains are juggling 100 different things, we’re more likely to make a memory error, like forgetting to pick up pasta for Wednesday night’s dinner, or failing to remember a colleague's name in an important meeting. Daily stresses also drain our brain resources. All those little pressures and deadlines add up, forcing your brain to do a whole lot of mental multitasking. In fact, a study from Queen’s University, Canada, estimates we have 6200 thoughts each day - that’s a lot of potential for distractions.
Furthermore, an article published in the journal Science of Learning showed that stress not only impacts memory retrieval, but also our ability to problem-solve and generate creative solutions. Between living through a multi-year pandemic, financial pressure and family stress, humans cope with a lot. So how do we boost our memory and recharge those brain cells in times of stress? Thinking harder isn’t always the answer. Competitive inhibition of the neurons in your brain means that when you try to remember a specific piece of memory, like a name or code, your brain cells overload. They need time to recharge and unblock - resulting in the name of that song you can’t get out of your head finally popping up in your mind, four hours later.
So if you’re feeling more forgetful than normal, or your brain simply feels stuck, it might be a sign you need to take the time to reset. Think about something else for a few minutes. Maybe it’s talking to the cashier about the weather instead of desperately staring at the card machine keypad in front of you, allowing other parts of your brain to activate and giving those memory centres a chance to pick back up again. Incorporate micro-breaks in your office days to avoid email typos, refresh your mental resources and give your brain back the energy and focus it needs to locate that crucial piece of information.
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDrhs1vtMqk