Savouring Joy

There has been a lot of research into the way our experiences are turned into memories.   A model currently popular with neuroscientists involves different areas of our brain being used to store short and long term memories.   Information regarding recent experiences is temporarily retained in one location within our brains before being moved to another for permanent storage. 
 
We can easily access this information while it remains in our short-term memory and take time to reflect upon what has occurred, possibly adding additional details.   If the experience stays with us it will be transferred to our long term memory and we will be able to draw upon it at any time in the future.  However, if information does not remain within our short term memory for long enough then it is effectively over-written with new information from our latest experience. 
 
This theory was developed using real-time imaging techniques to identify parts of the brain associated with short and long term memory with activity being tracked as different areas light up. This reminds me a little of the difference between information the Random Access Memory uses in the management of a computer system and the data transferred to the hard drive for permanent storage.
 
The model provides an insight into how we learn.  Studying intensely keeps information in our heads long enough to stay there and I suppose the practice of repetition, or learning by rote, is another proven way of retaining information though there is no guarantee that it is always understood.
 
This also explains the experience we sometimes have of seeming to operate on automatic pilot.  For example having driven somewhere that is very familiar to us and arrived safely without having any memory of how we got there.  This is possibly because the experience did not stay in our short term memory long enough to warrant it becoming permanent.
 
The deciding factor between what sticks and what is lost would seem to be the length of time the experience remains in our thoughts.  There are various reasons why it does not remain for long such as how important we believe it to be, or because more important information turned up and we chose to focus on that.
 
The time needed to create a memory also seems to vary depending upon the nature of the experience.  Tests have apparently shown that negative experiences do not need to be retained as long as positive experiences before becoming permanent memories.  One explanation for what is referred to as a negative bias is that it promotes learning from unpleasant experiences as a way of keeping us safe in the future.
 
If we need to retain positive experiences in our consciousness longer before they can be added to our store of memories, there may be a tendency for our memories to be weighted towards less pleasant experiences.

If this is the case, perhaps we can influence the balance of our memories by deliberately holding on to positive experiences so that they are retained.  This is possibly the science behind a lot of the practices promoted by positive psychology.  It might also provide further insights into the benefits we experience from contemplating the beauty of the natural world or reflecting upon the art, poetry and music that has been created through the years.
 
By taking sufficient time to focus on positive experiences, both as they occur and immediately after, we may be able to reset the balance of our memories so that pleasure outweighs pain.  This could mean taking more time to stare at a sunset, holding on to a delicious flavour for a few extra moments or staying a little longer with someone we care about.
 
Even if this is not the case, there is a strong argument for savouring the joy in life rather than brooding on life’s downturns.
 
© 2017 Michael Golding