A new study has shown that the brain retains memories from the period of childhood amnesia to adulthood, even if we cannot consciously mention them. This discovery changes the understanding of how memories are formed and preserved, and opens new prospects for the study of memory development.
Earlier, scientists believed that the brain of young people was not well developed to form persistent memories, but new studies have shown that memories are stored in the form of neurons networks. When we try to remember, these neural bonds are strengthened. However, according to researchers, the lack of language in early childhood can limit the ability to consciously reproduce memories.
One of the most interesting aspects is that the details of the first memoirs may depend on the cultural environment and upbringing. Studies conducted on children from different cultures show that even the first memories can vary depending on how often parents ask questions and talk to the child. For example, in Ukraine and the US, children can remember their first memories at an average of 3.5 years of age, while the Chinese remember them a little later.
Interestingly, the New Zealand Maori first memories appear a few months earlier - at the age of about 2.5 years. This, according to scientists, may be related to the strong cultural tradition of oral transmission of knowledge and stories in their culture, which stimulates the development of memory at an early age.
Studies have also confirmed that early childhood injuries can have serious consequences for mental health, increasing the risk of anxiety and depression in the future.
Thus, the memories formed during the period of childhood amnesia are actually stored in the brain, and although they are not conscious, their impact on our lives can be deep. These discoveries ask why we do not have access to these memories and why the memories formed up to 7 years are destroyed faster than adults.
