Why Do You Remember That You Forget Something But Can't Recall What It Is?

People find it easier to realize that they forget something and harder to pinpoint what they forget.

Why It's Easy To Remember You Forget Something

Have you experienced doing something and suddenly forgetting why you're doing it, or have you done something? Our brain processes lots of thoughts that we sometimes can't keep up. For example, while juggling multiple balls in the air, you are almost certain to forget about one of them and only remember when the pattern breaks.

There are various reasons why humans fall into this habit. One online user shared possible reasons why it's easier to remember forgetting something than recalling the actual thing we forgot.

Incomplete retrieval: In some situations, the retrieval cues you are currently aware of are not connected to or fully activated in the memory you are attempting to retrieve. This may give you the impression that you know something but cannot access it.

Interference: The precise memory you seek to recollect may not return to you quickly if you have other memories or information. Even though you know the target memory exists, it may be impossible to access it due to this interference.

Encoding or storage issues: It's possible that the data you're attempting to recall was not successfully encoded or saved in your memory in the first place. This may occur if the data was not thoroughly reviewed, if there were interruptions, or if other elements impacted the encoding procedure.

Context-dependent memory: Occasionally, the context in which information was first learned or encoded affects memory retrieval. Retrieving the memory may be more difficult if the current context differs from where the data was initially saved.

Evolution: One of the most frequent causes of short-term memory loss is that to assess potential threats, evolution has trained us to erase our short-term memory whenever we enter a new area. As a result, we frequently forget things but are aware that we did so because we are in a new place and must have gone there with a purpose.

ALSO READ: Daily Routine, Creating Distinctiveness Can Help Improve Short-Term Memory, Neuroscience Professor Says

Tips to Remember What You Just Forgot

It isn't very pleasant when you realize you forget something but can't remember it. To make matters worse, the more you think hard about it, the more you can't recall it.

Here are some tips to prompt your memory and potentially remember what you forgot.

Retrace your steps

According to research, a large portion of memory is "context-dependent," which means that people retain information better in settings similar to the ones in which it was learned.

Reconstruct your train of thought

If you cannot physically return to where you had the now-forgotten thought, try visualizing your location, activities, and the connections between your ideas. Rebuilding your thought process can aid in retrieving a forgotten notion by triggering comparable ideas, as many memories are stored along overlapping neural patterns.

Recreate the original environmental cues

You can bring back the knowledge you thought you had forgotten by doing the activities you did earlier while thinking about the idea. Whether browsing a webpage or listening to certain music, these actions can help you remember what you forgot.

Think and talk about something unrelated

Your brain stores a great deal of information along overlapping neural patterns, so it's simple to become trapped retrieving related but incorrect information. For example, you can think of all the other actors who have played "Batman" instead of the one you're thinking of. Resetting your retrieval can be achieved by thinking about anything else.

Relax

Even basic knowledge can be complex to recall when one is anxious. Don't get upset if you are having trouble remembering things; take a few deep breaths to relax and recall the information.