What makes a memory?

I can remember odd things like what type of root beer my next door neighbors gave me and my brother for carrying their groceries to their house once.. (a&w 2 liter)

But can not recall things other "more important" things.. I know we can only store so much info and other petty items get pushed out or ingrained in us.. I just think it is odd that certain things I would deem petty such as the 1 liter thing I can recall the event 100%

They have recently released a study saying traumatic events (near death or witnessing death 1st hand) witnesses were more accurate in their recollection of petty items.. (descriptions of peoples clothing.. descriptions of other peoples facial reactions to events etc)

I was involved in a fatal crash and can recall many odd things from that as well..


what do you think makes a memory and what odd things can you recall that you really should have mentally tossed away.. (besides reading this post)

...scenes, scents, pictures on walls, clothes people were wearing, etc. I remember mostly in a visual way. I don't think I can say what makes which event more 'sticky' than others

... dang. I knew this one. Wait wait ... don't tell me ... cn

When I was a little girl I always wanted a pair of red shoes, now money was very tight in our house their was six of us and although my dad worked he didn't really earn much. I wanted these shoes so bad and the only shoes we were ever bought were plain black school shoes every year we had new ones and the old ones became playing shoes. I came home from school one day and my mum had bought me a pair of red shoes they were beautiful and I wore them and wore them. Eventually they became to small so my dad cut the toes out of them so I could carry on wearing them. To this day every time I see a pair of red shoes I get that warm happy feeling I got that day I came home from school, it happens every time no matter whose wearing them and I always smile to my self, a bit weird but its true that's a happy memory for me.

I think I have forgotten a lot of good memories...if that makes sense?

gioua said:

I can remember odd things like what type of root beer my next door neighbors gave me and my brother for carrying their groceries to their house once.. (a&w 2 liter)

But can not recall things other "more important" things.. I know we can only store so much info and other petty items get pushed out or ingrained in us.. I just think it is odd that certain things I would deem petty such as the 1 liter thing I can recall the event 100%

Click to expand...

damn bro, you already forgot, lol

For me many memories stem from life changes, the cliched firsts {kiss, fight, wipeout etc} and still others are of songs but I find the most powerful memories come from my sense of smell. There have been times where I would be riding my bike and the aroma coming off the glen would invoke such a intense memory from my youth I would stop and just ponder....then continue on feeling somehow rejuvenated.

So what is a memory? I haven't foggiest clue, but my guess would be a series of stimuli so strong as to create a neural pathway strictly for that event or experience.

MojoRison said:

For me many memories stem from life changes, the cliched firsts {kiss, fight, wipeout etc}

Click to expand...

*has major flashbacks*

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