But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids Why can’t we remember being babies?
Jan 9, 2026
Dr. Nick Turk-Browne, a Yale psychology professor, dives into the fascinating world of memory. He discusses why we can’t recall our baby years, shedding light on infantile amnesia. The conversation covers different types of memory, from motor skills to event memories, and how sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation. Turk-Browne also explains why forgetting is beneficial and how some memories are shaped by powerful associations. Plus, he shares insights on why some people are more forgetful and how memory impacts our identity and daily lives.
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How Memory Actually Works
- Memory is the brain recording experiences by changing neural connections when you see, hear, or do something.
- Different brain parts store different memory types and memory has stages: encoding, consolidation, and retrieval.
Three Memory Stages Explained
- Encoding records experiences, consolidation (especially during sleep) stabilizes them, and retrieval accesses them later.
- Dreaming is described as the brain "chewing on" memories to help them stick around longer.
Sleep To Solidify Learning
- Get a good night's sleep after studying because sleep consolidates memories and aids generalization.
- Sleep helps you apply learned concepts to new situations and improves test performance.