Why Do We Forget What We Learn?

• Brains forget details after exams due to evolutionary memory prioritisation.
• Ebbinghaus’ 'forgetting curve' shows memories fade without regular revision.
• Revising material reinforces importance, preventing the brain from discarding it.

Have you ever wondered why you don't remember the majority of things you read in books years ago? Or why do you forget such details suddenly after the exams

conclude? No matter how many times you had revised those chapters or wrote them down, you only remember the major part but not the intricate details. Why? Why does this happen with the human brain? Isn't it weird that an organ whose main purpose is memorising and recalling things forgets to do that? As a student, these thoughts must have crossed your mind during conversations or arguments when you're trying to prove a point by remembering those tiny but significant details from your textbooks, but all you could utter was, "It happened, it's a fact, and I'm right." In reality, no one pays heed to such empty statements; all they care about are facts and how you can back them up. If you're someone who has been a victim of such situations and wish to know why it actually happens, read on.... Evolutionary Purpose: Our brain is wired to prioritise the crucial and useful information necessary for everyday life or survival. So when you read a few chapters and answer them off in your exams, you tend to forget them later because the brain saved that information for 'temporary' use. It was something that you needed to remember for a period of time; however, when the information looked obsolete or futile to the brain, it tried to erase it. Forgetting Curve: A psychologist named Hermann Ebbinghaus figured out the 'forgetting curve'. It means that after feeding something into the brain, the memory tends to fade away if not strengthened. In simpler words, when you cram books the whole night, appear for the exam, and never look at those chapters again, your memory starts to dim as you never re-visited those topics. Memory Optimisation: Just like your mobile phone, your brain has 'limited storage'. Therefore, by cleaning up unused information, it makes space for more relevant and worthy information that you're likely to utilise in your near future. Stress & Exam Mode: During the exam season, stress and anxiety are at their peak. As a result, your brain also shifts to a short-term high alert mode. When you're past that phase, the tension goes away, and so does the previously learned information, unless reinforced. In conclusion, if you intend to remember something forever, make sure you revise that information from time to time so that your brain acknowledges its importance and does not let it go. Recommended | 15-Minute Japanese Tricks to Memorise and Remember Any Chapter Faster