How far back do you remember events?

[pulse8]

I have lots of memories from when I was young, but I have no idea how old I am in them.

 

[Squisher]

My earliest memory is from the age of 2. I was left in a hospital overnight for observation after getting knocked out by a playground swing. Yeah, they used to made of hard stuff that weighed at least 5 lbs.

I don't remember getting hit or me hitting my mother the next day saying, "you left me!" (Although, the latter was a story retold a million times) But, I do remember laying in the hospital bed and seething with anger over my parents lying to me and saying they weren't leaving when they did.

 

[w3stfa11]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
My earliest memories are from under 1 year old and I am now 44. It all depends on the person.

I remember the day I was born. I win.

 

[Flyback]

My memory is amazing for a 5-7 year window. I can remember really useless details with perfect clarity.

Anything beyond 7 years is near blank save for fleeting feelings of shapes, colours and buildings. I hate it

Must memory be jogged/refreshed to persist?

 

[MagicConch]

For me forgetfulness is not a function of linear time but saliency of the event

 

[imported_Imp]

First year kindergarten at school. Maybe a summer program or two as well, but nothing else before that.

 

[ppdes]

I'm 26 and can only remember 2 events for a known year back about 3 years to 23. My mind just seems to keep the knowledge and throw away the events. I can remember control schemes and keyboard shortcuts from games I played back in the early 90s, for example, even if I can't actually remember playing any of them any more.

>Must memory be jogged/refreshed to persist?

There was a recent study with rats where scientists erased long term memories simply by temporarily blocking synaptic strengthening. So it looks like memories do take active maintenance.

 

[Kreon]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
I have some very vague memories from when I was two, the earliest fully recallable ones were when I was three.

Ditto, my earliest memory is actually taking walks with my dziadziu (grandpa)

I'm 18

 

[adairusmc]

I fully remember getting in trouble when I was 3. I remember lying 3 boxes of graham crackers on the hallway carpet like they were tile, then running up and down the hallway.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i have trouble remembering last week, let alone several years ago. sure there are isolated memories, but not a continuous line or anything

i'm 20.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: ppdes
I'm 26 and can only remember 2 events for a known year back about 3 years to 23. My mind just seems to keep the knowledge and throw away the events. I can remember control schemes and keyboard shortcuts from games I played back in the early 90s, for example, even if I can't actually remember playing any of them any more.

>Must memory be jogged/refreshed to persist?

There was a recent study with rats where scientists erased long term memories simply by temporarily blocking synaptic strengthening. So it looks like memories do take active maintenance.

Holy Cow! Now I know why other kids in high school and at college had to study!
But seriously, you never meet people you knew from the time you were a little kid and can reminisce with them about things you did together?

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i can remember....

sorry, i can remember a few things from kindergarten. like the time i got spanked for picking up my chair over my head and when i had to learn a dumb poem that i didn't want to

 

[imported_LoKe]

About 14 years old or so. Not entirely sure.

 

[Bill Brasky]

I remember a bunch of stuff from my 4th year, but there were many significant events that happened to me. I went to disney land, I broke my femour, and a girl in my preschool class named brittany bit my arm. :| But then she became a hottie in high school so I forgave her.