Like, I can remember that I spilled orange juice in the living room when I was 5, but can’t remember what I had for dinner last Tuesday.
In: Biology
I don’t know much neurology/psychology, but your example made me think of the amygdala. The amygdala is a part of your brain that is involved in memory, but also fear and emotion.
As far as I know it highlights highly emotional memories (especially with negative emotions), which makes sense as those are the things that we should avoid repeating unnecessarily.
You spilling juice would probably stress you out as a kid, being afraid of your parents reaction, being overwhelmed with the situation and maybe guilt for spilling the juice/spoiling the carpet/…
Dinner however is not particularly important or interesting.
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