What is the earliest memory that a human can recall...and what would be the average age of memory recall?

Answer 1

You're not going to get "real" answers from people on something like memory. The reason, according to noted memory researcher Elizabeth Loftus, is that memory is maleable and unreliable. As a result, people are just as sure of their false memories as they are of the real ones. People who THINK they recall being infants don't tell you that they THINK they remember it...they tell you that they DO remember it.

The research, however, shows that the hippocampus doesn't begin creating concrete (explicit) memories until the age of 3 years. Memories before that age have been found to be false, often created by fantasy, tv/film, family stories, or old photos.

Answer 2

I think the official age for long term easily extracted memories is about 2, but usually those are sketchy. My first one is 2 1/2 and it's just a snapshot, but also just like when you're older the type of memory will influence what your earliest memory was.

Total memory recall - a lifetime basically, but often it'll require a stimuli to recall them unless you have a use for that memory on a regular basis.

The mechanisms involved in this are still facinating science boffs, but one of the really strange things is, when you get to say 80 you can often remember things 50 years ago much more clearly than you could maybe 10 years previously. It's as if all the memories are kept, but some are harder to access until the newer memories get out of the way.

Answer 3

some people recall things from -3 years old.. some create memories based on schemes from that age....

as far as average age of memory recall? if you mean how long does it take for you to forget something... usually less than 30 seconds. If you can remember something 30 seconds from now that just happened.. then you are just as likely to remember it next week... most things are just shuffled out of your short term memory in less time than that.

Answer 4

2.5 years is the earliest reliable memory most people can remember. The average person can remember something about being 3. Early memories are usually about routine things like eating or playing. Usually something that can be seen or felt. Auditory, olfactory, and novel memories usually occur later.

Answer 5

I can recall various flashes of memories from earlier than 2. They're mostly just quick blips like pictures that I remember.

Answer 6

I remember intense memories from an early age, i.e., my brother getting burned really badly when I was almost 2, almost choking to death on something, etc.

Answer 7

I remember looking up my teachers skirt when I was in pre-school. I think I was 4, almost 5.

Answer 8

It just depends. You would do better to look up some text on child development.

I remember pre-language but there are those who say it isn't possible. It is because I do.

Answer 9

You cam memorize bad and good things very well ,because it goes to back of your head

Answer 10

I can remember how I felt in the womb...unwanted. It took years of counselling and prayer for me to know that though.