Discuss the hypotheses presented about the reasons we forget information. Provide examples from your own life.
What will be an ideal response?
Student examples will vary. A sample answer follows.
Researchers used to think that memories decayed over time. However, more recent research points to two causes of forgetting: interference and lack of consolidation.
Interference means that other information prevents retrieval of the target information. For example, once I learned how to type on a QUERTY keyboard in the third grade, I had much more difficulty typing using my old hunt-and-peck method.
Lack of consolidation means that the brain's neurons have not had a chance to share and file information. For instance, I thought that staying up all night before a big exam would help me retain the information I needed because it would all be fresh in my mind. When I got to the exam room, all the facts and concepts seemed to swirl together, and I had trouble passing the test. Now I realize that I should have slept for at least a few hours to allow the information to consolidate.
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