Why You Could Lose Memories If You Try Too Hard

                There are some memories we just want to hold onto for as long as possible.  Maybe it’s a childhood home, a loved one, or the way someone looked at you and smiled across the room.  Repeatedly replaying memories may degrade their quality rather than solidify them, according to recent research findings. It’s counterproductive to try to crystallize memories by replaying them.

                A recent publication in the Nature Communications journal should have you reassessing how many times you try to recall those important memories.  Generally, memories of particular events fade over time, but we now know that the actual memory changes when we try to recall it later.

Memory Simplification Process

                Repeatedly recalling memories causes important details to fade over time. It’s an unintended consequence of frequent reminiscing. The brain simplifies memories based on their perceived significance during formation. This process helps prioritize important details. You can recall feelings or conversations, but minor details may be forgotten—a characteristic of semantic memory. This is called a semantic memory.  If you attach meaning to a memory, it’s easier to recall—but will fade quicker.

                What makes it harder to recall over time is that if you keep racking your brain trying to remember all the details, the more the brain will only focus on the semantic aspect of the memory.  Most, if not all, the perceptual aspects of the memory will disappear.  If you’ve ever wondered why you’re more likely to remember something routine but your favorite memories seem to get hazier over time, you can use this knowledge to help you preserve those really important memories.

                By recalling them more infrequently, you’ll be able to keep them fresh.  Like the most beloved photographs, it will last longer if they’re kept on a shelf and brought out for times when you can truly appreciate them.

Further Reading

Lifanov, J., Linde-Domingo, J. & Wimber, M. Feature-specific reaction times reveal a semanticisation of memories over time and with repeated remembering. Nat Commun 12, 3177 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23288-5

Also read our blog on Can You Get High on Naproxen?