The Science of Forgetting
By: Ram Prasanna
Forgetting
What is forgetting?
The Brain and Forgetting
Why do we forget?
Forgetting Research and Theories
Robert Bjork is a very famous psychologist that has done extensive research on the science of forgetting and has developed theories and conclusions about different aspects of why people forget. Such as the testing effect, where as an individual is tested formally the test can assess more knowledge than prior. Also he has theories about why students forget knowledge on the day of the test in a "fright". His whole study is in concentration for a increased memory and learning performance.
Interesting Facts about Forgetting
There are actually activities that allow the brain to forget memory. People with a disease called global amnesia will obtain these memory difficulties and there would be no signs of damage to the brain or a stroke. It is still not clear how this occurs.
There are memories in our "Subconscious" and our "Unconscious" mind that many people cannot access. These memories can potentially be accessed through psychological methods and could be a mechanism by the brain to either empty space for more information in the access of the conscious mind or a way to have repressed memories.
Works Cited
http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/p/forgetting.htm
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-we-forget-things/
http://www.psychologistworld.com/memory/forgetting.php
http://io9.com/our-brains-deliberately-make-us-forget-things-to-preve-1543846375
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgetting_curve#mediaviewer/File:ForgettingCurve.svg
http://bjorklab.psych.ucla.edu/research.html
http://www.livescience.com/44940-strange-facts-about-memory.html