Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: briligg on 09/02/2011 17:06:33

Title: How are powerful experiences burned into your memory so quickly?
Post by: briligg on 09/02/2011 17:06:33

I have noticed that if our dogs really enjoyed or were really upset by something, they remember that forever after, even if the experience was brief, or it happened somewhere we don't return to for years. I have strong memories of a few occasions in my life that were also very emotionally loaded, but because i am human, i go over such experiences in my mind many times, and so of course the memory is reinforced. Presumably, our dogs don't do that.

Is there something hormonal or something like that that happens during very emotional experiences which causes strong permanent memories of those experiences to be formed? Is the mechanism understood at all?

Title: How are powerful experiences burned into your memory so quickly?
Post by: Geezer on 09/02/2011 22:41:42

Our dogs seem to dream about stuff all the time. One of them even lets out little yips, so I'm pretty sure he's barking in his dream. I'm not sure they are so different from us in some respects.

Title: How are powerful experiences burned into your memory so quickly?
Post by: briligg on 09/02/2011 22:51:41

Hm, dreaming... i guess that could be how some memories are reinforced for dogs and other mammals.

One of our dogs sometimes starts howling in her sleep and we have to wake her up.