Yes, babies can form memories, particularly short-term memories, even from a very young age, but they struggle to recall them in adulthood, a phenomenon known as infantile amnesia. While babies can form memories, adults often struggle to recall events from their earliest years, a phenomenon called infantile amnesia.
Babies begin forming memories, including implicit memories (like motor skills) and statistical learning, as early as two or three months. Babies primarily have short-term memories that last for a few minutes or hours, helping them track objects and recognize familiar faces.
Studies using brain scans and tracking eye movements have shown that babies can encode memories, and the hippocampus plays a role in this process.
I have many childhood memories my parents couldn't recall. 50 years ago.
ReplyDeleteMy dads parent were divorced and I only met my grandfather once. My dad always said that I couldnt possibly remember the trip because I wasnt even 2 yrs at the time, maybe 19-20 months old. But the things I remember are from the perspective of a toddler. I remember standing up on the front seat of the car between dad and uncle morrie(1950’ what seatbelts?). I remember the windshield being broke- dad said it was a car with a split windscreen- a studibaker? I remember mom sitting in the back with my grandmother- that was wrong it was my aunt. I remember being trapped in a cage and screaming for my father and he ran across the yard, tore the cage open and picked me up. Actually I was on a screened in porch and didnt see a door, when I screamed my dad ran over, opened the door and picked me up. I remember the underside of my grandfathers kitchen table. This is why I believe that I do remember, not acquired memories from listening to folks talk. Dad didnt remember opening a screen door and picking me up.
ReplyDeleteAt 77 I am remembering every stupid foolish thing I ever did and it sucks.
ReplyDeleteI remembered playing in the snow as a toddler in dreams when I was a few years older. After talking about it with my parents, they confirmed it really happened so it then became engrained in my permanent memory.
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