Imagine that you are talking about a topic with your friend. As you were fervently talking about this subject, a thought popped into your mind. You weigh that thought in your head and think about what you can do. At this moment, you realized that your toilet was coming and you got up to go to the toilet. When you walked through the door of the room, the thought that you had in your mind suddenly disappeared. You tried to remember what you were thinking but found nothing. Have you encountered something like this before?
Do you know that there is a scientific explanation for this event that probably happens to everyone? This phenomenon, known as the Doorway effect, happens because of a mental blockage in the brain when you walk through a doorway or enter a new room. Doors that can close and open one place and allow you to pass to another place act as a kind of key in your mind. Let’s see how and why this forgetting, which scientists call “entrance amnesia”, happens, are there ways to prevent it.
What is the Door Sill Effect?
Imagine you are sitting at the computer. The game you were playing was over and you started walking towards the kitchen to drink water. At that moment, a notification came to your phone and you replied to the message you received. You arrived in the kitchen during this time, but what did you go to the kitchen for in the first place? You try to remember but you can’t remember. This situation that happens to everyone is called the door-sill effect.
The door sill effect has nothing to do with forgetfulness. Our brain, which is constantly changing, develops and of course changes itself throughout a person’s life. Our brain, which stores memories by fragmenting them, will react differently in remembering these events.
What causes the door-sill effect, according to psychologists?
Research on this subject is still at very early stages. Some theories have been developed in this regard. According to the first of these theories, walking through a door and entering a different room is thought to cause a mental blockage in the brain. When our brain enters a different environment, it removes some memories of the past in order to focus on this new environment. These memory stores, which are seen as somewhat unnecessary, are pushed back, focusing on the conditions of the new environment.
When we look at the second theory about this effect experienced, we come across the result that it is transmitted through genetic memory. The human brain, which needs to be constantly alert, especially in ancient times, directs all its intensity from the past to the present when the place is changed.
Does the door sill effect affect health?
The experience of forgetfulness you experience when you pass through a door; does not indicate a problem with your brain, memory or cognitive abilities. This is a situation that happens to every person and is actually thought to be caused by the way the brain works. However, having this situation does not mean that you have a health problem.
Today we explained to you the door sill effect that happens to almost everyone. Do not forget to share your thoughts and comments with us.
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