Childhood amnesia
Childhood Amnesia
Childhood amnesia, also known as infantile amnesia, refers to the inability of adults to recall memories from early childhood, typically before the age of 3-4 years.
Pronunciation
Childhood amnesia: /ˈtʃaɪldˌhʊd æmˈniːʒə/
Etymology
The term 'childhood amnesia' is derived from the Greek word 'amnesia' meaning 'forgetfulness'. 'Childhood' is derived from the Old English words 'cildhad' meaning 'the state of being a child'.
Definition
Childhood amnesia is a phenomenon in developmental psychology where adults are unable to recall memories from the first few years of their life. This is thought to be due to the underdevelopment of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, two areas of the brain that are involved in memory storage and retrieval.
Related Terms
- Memory: The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information.
- Hippocampus: A region of the brain that plays a major role in memory.
- Prefrontal Cortex: The cerebral cortex which covers the front part of the frontal lobe, implicated in planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making, and moderating social behaviour.
- Developmental Psychology: The scientific study of how and why human beings change over the course of their life.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Childhood amnesia
- Wikipedia's article - Childhood amnesia
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