Why do our brains remember words we hardly ever use?

Question

For example, my fiancee staggered home from her Hen night about 3 o'clock this morning proudly showing off her garter belt. Now, since I'm pretty sure I've never used the word "garter" before yesterday, how did my brain instantly remember what it was called?

Another example, I have never driven a car and yet I know what a crankshaft is.

Why do our brains store this information? Couldn't the space be used for something else?

Answer 1

I read in a book about it but it is very difficult to explain!
In one simple answer, in the blood there is one neuron cell, it reaches all the communication for processing to the brain and the brain conveys the same to the place from where it is originated.

eg:-
Feeling;
A needle is pierced in at a finget tip - action transfered to brain -also the result is transfered to the place of origin immediately. That is why the pain is not felt in a different place.

That is why even an ant crawls on our body even during our sleep we are able to identify + analyse that feeling, from where it comes, how it might have come and how to react if it is damaging one!

Audio & video effects:-
That is the one observes, through vision (eyes) or listening through ears....Even after couple of years one can recollect the same from the memory, even a small flash back is noticed!!

Importance & advantages;
If one is not having the facility of memory, he will not be able to recall any of the past and forcast the future plans. This applies to all ages and all times. A second earlier happend to any one is past, with a second that the time advances.

I am unable to recollect the title of the book from my memory.
It is a small book with lot of answers for your questions and doubts.

Answer 2

No need to save brain space, we all have enough hard drive to store more than we need. Besides, if we did not store everyday mundane information our powers of communication would be severely hampered. Just imagine arranging to meet someone by the lamp post on the corner. What is a lamp post? You would have to say that big tall thing with a light on the top. But what is big? What is tall? What is a light? And what the hell is corner?

Answer 3

Good question. Which begs another.....

If our brains instantly recall and process things that we seemingly have no prior connection to.....an amazing act, if you think about it....then why is it we can never remember something when we want to, even though we DO have an existing frame of reference for the information?

I swear, it's right on the tip of my tongue......dangit!

Congrats on the upcoming nuptuals.....I'm dying to know what the male equivalent of "Hen night" is called. "Crankshaft night"?

Never driven a car? WOW.

Answer 4

Yes, but for some reason, it doesn't. I can't remember where I left my car keys, but I remember the lyrics to advertisements from my childhood. I can't remember my doctors appointment, but recall the reason Ethelred the Unready was called the Unready (it was actually that he was unrede-y; a rede being a wise decision in Old English). There are all sorts of studies about long term vs. short term memories. I'm sure you can look them up on the web.

Answer 5

toddler!! i'm 24 so I bear in ideas the ninety's extra useful than the eighty's. I enjoyed the pop subculture of my time. i myself omit the simplicity of being a new child. I omit my do away with darkness from footwear. i admire Oregon path. i became in love with New little ones on the Block. I continuously wanted to get slimed on the orange settee.

Answer 6

Our brains have plenty of room in them to store oodles of information. Just think of all the memories you have from your whole life. I think a few words here and there won't overfill it.

Answer 7

you just forgot that you have seen garters in all those porn mags. if you see something enough times... therefore, it wasn't that you didn't know it, but where too distracted to realize you knew it at the time