eli5: Why do most people have no memories from before age 4 or 5 years old?
In: 4721
Since most replies here are either based on “quick googling” or are talking about language and other tangentially related things:
The term for this is [infantile amnesia](https://www.jneurosci.org/content/37/24/5783) and it’s observed in different species, including humans, mice, and rats. This suggests that this type of unstable early-life memory is not exclusively related to language or self-identity, although these things may play a part.
Evidence from animal models shows that infantile memories [are persistent, but become rapidly inaccessible](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096098221830695X?via%3Dihub), unlike adult memories. This strongly indicates that the information content is retained even after the animals can no longer recall the memories naturally. As far as I’m aware we do not know whether this is the case in humans as well.
There are many unknowns about the mechanism for this, although the two papers I liked describe and test some potential mechanisms: the section called “Infantile amnesia and explanatory hypotheses proposed to date” in the first one. The second paper is an experimental one, so it is much more technical and might be hard to understand without a lot of background knowledge.
This is not exactly an ELI5 answer, but I feel like the top comments here either don’t answer the question at all or do so in an extremely superficial way (IMO beyond what you’d expect for this sub).
It’s not exactly my research area but if you have any specific questions, let me know!
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Since most replies here are either based on “quick googling” or are talking about language and other tangentially related things:
The term for this is [infantile amnesia](https://www.jneurosci.org/content/37/24/5783) and it’s observed in different species, including humans, mice, and rats. This suggests that this type of unstable early-life memory is not exclusively related to language or self-identity, although these things may play a part.
Evidence from animal models shows that infantile memories [are persistent, but become rapidly inaccessible](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096098221830695X?via%3Dihub), unlike adult memories. This strongly indicates that the information content is retained even after the animals can no longer recall the memories naturally. As far as I’m aware we do not know whether this is the case in humans as well.
There are many unknowns about the mechanism for this, although the two papers I liked describe and test some potential mechanisms: the section called “Infantile amnesia and explanatory hypotheses proposed to date” in the first one. The second paper is an experimental one, so it is much more technical and might be hard to understand without a lot of background knowledge.
This is not exactly an ELI5 answer, but I feel like the top comments here either don’t answer the question at all or do so in an extremely superficial way (IMO beyond what you’d expect for this sub).
It’s not exactly my research area but if you have any specific questions, let me know!
Since most replies here are either based on “quick googling” or are talking about language and other tangentially related things:
The term for this is [infantile amnesia](https://www.jneurosci.org/content/37/24/5783) and it’s observed in different species, including humans, mice, and rats. This suggests that this type of unstable early-life memory is not exclusively related to language or self-identity, although these things may play a part.
Evidence from animal models shows that infantile memories [are persistent, but become rapidly inaccessible](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096098221830695X?via%3Dihub), unlike adult memories. This strongly indicates that the information content is retained even after the animals can no longer recall the memories naturally. As far as I’m aware we do not know whether this is the case in humans as well.
There are many unknowns about the mechanism for this, although the two papers I liked describe and test some potential mechanisms: the section called “Infantile amnesia and explanatory hypotheses proposed to date” in the first one. The second paper is an experimental one, so it is much more technical and might be hard to understand without a lot of background knowledge.
This is not exactly an ELI5 answer, but I feel like the top comments here either don’t answer the question at all or do so in an extremely superficial way (IMO beyond what you’d expect for this sub).
It’s not exactly my research area but if you have any specific questions, let me know!
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Things we remember are the things we remember more. From everything that happened today, there will be some things which will stand out more than others. 5 days later, you’re more likely to remember those things that stood out than the other stuff that happened today. And once you’ve accessed that memory, it’s easier to access it again.
Think of it like a forest. Paths that are taken more become walkways. Paths not taken have overgrown vegetation. But if people stop taking that walkway, plants will start growing on it again and it’ll become a non walkway very soon.
Memories of the times before you’re 3 or 4 were barely accessed. With growing time, you’re less likely to access. Say when you’re 5, you probably remember things from when you’re 4. But since you don’t think about those things, the memories seem to fade.
Things we remember are the things we remember more. From everything that happened today, there will be some things which will stand out more than others. 5 days later, you’re more likely to remember those things that stood out than the other stuff that happened today. And once you’ve accessed that memory, it’s easier to access it again.
Think of it like a forest. Paths that are taken more become walkways. Paths not taken have overgrown vegetation. But if people stop taking that walkway, plants will start growing on it again and it’ll become a non walkway very soon.
Memories of the times before you’re 3 or 4 were barely accessed. With growing time, you’re less likely to access. Say when you’re 5, you probably remember things from when you’re 4. But since you don’t think about those things, the memories seem to fade.
Things we remember are the things we remember more. From everything that happened today, there will be some things which will stand out more than others. 5 days later, you’re more likely to remember those things that stood out than the other stuff that happened today. And once you’ve accessed that memory, it’s easier to access it again.
Think of it like a forest. Paths that are taken more become walkways. Paths not taken have overgrown vegetation. But if people stop taking that walkway, plants will start growing on it again and it’ll become a non walkway very soon.
Memories of the times before you’re 3 or 4 were barely accessed. With growing time, you’re less likely to access. Say when you’re 5, you probably remember things from when you’re 4. But since you don’t think about those things, the memories seem to fade.
No expert but the way I understand it, it has to do with cognitive ideation. Basically before that age you have already attached names and meaning to the world around you(mom, dad, ball, dog) but to grasp the time since you’ve done said recognition of your surroundings and it’s sequence over time has not been fully achieved it’s only after 4/5 years old you firm that time line. Again, no expert. Please correct me if I’m wrong here experts.
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