B2 – Upper Intermediate
Do you ever find it puzzling that you can’t recall moments from your earliest years? It’s a shared experience, and there’s a term for it in psychology: childhood amnesia. This refers to the fact that most adults have little to no memory of events from their first 3-4 years of life.
Let’s read the article and know more details as to why we have little to no recollection of our early years.
Vocabulary Discussions:
- What does “episodic memory” mean? “The findings suggest that episodic memory – the kind of memory that helps us remember specific events and the context in which they took place – begins to develop earlier than scientists previously believed.” Use it in a sentence.
- What is the meaning of “to take place“? “This is the first time scientists have directly observed how a memory begins to take shape in an awake baby’s brain. ” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
- What is the meaning of the phrase “to bury deep in something“? “Psychoanalysts such as Sigmund Freud believed that early childhood memories are not lost, but buried deep in the unconscious, and that psychotherapy might help bring them to the surface by changing mental states.“. Use it in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- How do you feel about the outcomes presented in this study?
- Do you find it intriguing that we begin forming memories at such a young age?
- Can you share some of the first memories you have from childhood?
- If it were an option, would you choose to unlock all your early childhood memories? Why or why not?
- Do you know anyone who possesses an incredible ability to remember things?