How come we can remember such old memories?

Question

Recently I've been remembering events that happened a long, long time ago, I'm talking 9-12 years ago - I was watching a trailer for El Dorado - and it reminded me of a time where I was watching a movie in the theater when I was like 7 years old and was complaining because it was too hot - but I'm 17 now, but I can remember stuff like this SO clearly, almost like it occured yesterday.

So how come we can remember such old memories? How is there space for all of this stuff?

Answer 1

well you're remembering some events either because they have significance or you were humiliated....

Answer 2

Our sub-conscious stores every memory, every smell, e very feeling,

It holds All received data..just like a computer

A smell can bring up a memory, a conversation can, etc.....

Answer 3

Basically, in your brain, there's no age put to the memory, except you know how old you were. As in, it won't wear away because it's from when you were seven or something. I don't even remember learning to ride a bike, I think because my parents were real distracted with my brother, and I taught myself. We do that alot. ANYWAY, I remember once when I was 3 and my mom told me to go sit down on the porch steps and take a picture with my brother. I did his wacked out smile, and he did a normal one. And she took the picture. I remember after that I ran back to my Dad, I remember EXACTLY how I got up, and where my mom went after that, and how she backed away (Taking first a step with her left foot, then her right, and another with her left, while looking at the picture.) and my Dad was mowing the lawn, and birds were chirping. It was a rather sunny day for Memphis, Tennessee. I loved it too, I remember every detail of it. Now, that picture is sitting on my TV place thing. Next to it, in a nice frame. I remember all this from over 8 years ago, and I remember it perfectly. AND, if I really think of it, I can feel it like I was there too. It's because your memory, even when young, choses what it remembers. And, if you try so very hard to remember it, you will, especially if you write it down. Your mind only stores what is interesting to it, as in an embarrassing moment, or a touching one with a loved one. It is amazing, though, how it goes through a series of steps. First, it will receive the info, I think by the Neurons? And it will then go through a three steps choosing to remember it or not. I have to go to bed, but, if you want more information on this - feel free to contact me. But you can remember it for years after it has happened, if you have a REAL good memory, like me, you can remember the smells, and sounds, and even how things feel just by studying the memory very well, and closely. Once again, I have to go to bed now, but if you want more info, just feel free to message me.

Answer 4

Basically through recall from our memory..

theres such thing as long term memory, here past memories or past learnings that are significant are stored and is ready to be recalled once we wished to.

those memories  decades ago that you recalled are significant happenings in your life, this could be consciously or unconsciously important to you. Unconsciously meaning, things that are not in accord with what you think is right and are repressed. This repressed emotions or memories resurfaced because of some triggering factor...that is the trailer El Dorado.

Think of that scene from the trailer ... there should have been   a connection between that scene and your past memory.. and that is the triggering factor im talking about.

To further understand you may want to visit this url:

Answer 5

Yeah i remeber when i use to watch pokemon when i was 7

Answer 6

Our brain is a fantastic computer with endless storage capacity.  Some very old people in their 90's can remember back to when they were 7 years old or younger if something reminds them of something they experienced back then. Everything that happens to us in our lives is eventually stored in our subconscious minds. We may not remember when we are awake but it's locked away in our subconscious. Then we when see, hear, smell, touch, taste, or have an event happen that triggers one of these senses, it could possibly (and often does) bring back memories that we haven't consciously thought about in a long time. If you try hard enough, you may remember things as far back as when you were three or four. It just depends on your senses reminding you of these memories.

Answer 7

Personally I feel like our memories are there to remind us of the truely great times in life as well as to devert us from making the same bad mistakes that we had already made. I often find myself in similar sittuations and wonder why I would remember that partiular moment which seemed so invalid compared to the rest of my life but then i think wow I must have really either enjoyed or hated that moment no matter how much I realized it at the time.

Answer 8

the mind has control of what it wants to remember

happy and sad memories are easy to remember because they have such an impact in our lives, therefore making them easier to remember

Answer 9

Because they are hard printed in your brain. You will remember some things more clearly than others, but everything in you long term memory can be accessed.

Smells are the best way to stimulate memories.

When people get old, like 80 or 90, they start to remember very vividly events from their childhood.

Memories are stored in your brain using a chemical storage device, and something you would never think of will trigger memories that you have completely forgotten about.