A bicycle trip is never forgotten: but why?

Another summer arrives. 9 months, when many did not step on the pool or we did not enter sea water. However, when we make the first fall of the year, we swam, as if time did not pass through us. This is not uncommon. In the end, swimming is like a bicycle ride: you will never forget. We all heard this expression. We also experienced this, which is the most important. But why is this happening? Because Bicycle to never forget?

Generally speaking, this is because it is a process that is part of our Procedure memoryThe field, that is, in which we keep instructions for the implementation of the procedures that mean Motor skillsThey, when recognized, are performed in a sense Automatic and unconsciousThe field inside the list is a bicycle, but also other skills, such as Touch the tool, walk, drive or write.

Although the reality is that walking and driving are not comparable tasks. Who did not need to attend several processing lessons in the car to remember how this is carried out after a long time of inaction? In these cases, repetition and some other issues that we will see at the end of the article must also be taken into account. But before, let’s start from the very beginning: why is the bicycle never forgotten?

Let’s start with memory types

There are different types of memory that depend on how we classify them. First, we can make a general classification taking into account automatism procedures. Thus, you can talk about memory Procedure and declarativeThe field is the first thing we have already seen. This is fully automatically. On the other hand, the second refers to the memories of those who know and, in addition, can communicate with other people. We can say how our first kiss was, but telling how you ride a bicycle or how you go is sometimes difficult. It just comes out.

There are also two types of memory within the framework of declarative memory: Episodic and semanticsThe first field belongs to the memory of experience. For example, this first kiss. The second, on the other hand, consists of storing knowledge. For example, we remember that the capital of Italy is Rome.

Why is the bicycle not forgotten, but the capital of Macedonia?

The capital of Macedonia SkopierBy the way. Nevertheless, let’s see what to ride a bicycle, does not forget.

The reality is that this is not entirely clear, although most scientists believe that perhaps this is due to the area of ​​the brain that is responsible for storing procedural memory. This is mainly Motor cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellumThe field seems to be that areas that are more resistant to repair. That is, less neurogenesis has been established and fewer new connections were established, so that the formed memories remain untouched.

In fact, according to neurobiologists Boris Sukhan In the article Scientific AmericanThe procedural memory even resists Brain injuries Much better than a declaration.

An example of Henry Molazon

Henry Gustav MolasonFamous in the scientific literature as HM, was a patient with epilepsy that in the 1950s he starred in several studies after an operation in which some parts of his brain were removed. First of all, several parts were removed from HippocampusThe area associated with the fixation of the memories. Epileptic seizures have improved significantly. However, they soon saw that something in their memory was not good.

They checked the experiment. Henry was supposed to Draw a star Five points on paper, while I saw his hand in the mirror. Therefore, the image was turned upside down. It was noted that over time and repetitions, Henry’s ability to fulfill this task has improved significantly. However, I never remembered how I did it beforeThis field indicates that his procedural memory was untouched, while the declaration was seriously affected.

The bicycle bicycle is not forgotten, but what kind of inverted bike is this?

On the site Association of Analysis of behavior international (ABAI) Quote a study in which people who already knew like a bicycle are trying to do this with Inverted bike. That is, a bicycle that moves in the opposite direction to what is normal when moving the steering wheel in one sense and in the other.

It was noted that those who already knew how to ride a bicycle had more difficulties than a person who went on a bicycle for the first time. And, thanks to the procedural memory, we assimilate the movements of movement for specific purposes. In the case of a bicycle, move.

If the movements or purpose change, our brain cannot follow the template. In the end, what we do is just about it: Patterns

Templates that are not always remembered

If a cycling never forgets why people who forget to drive a car? Or even riding a bicycle, let’s be honest. Moreover, why it is said that the game on the instrument is also part of the procedural memory, if, in the end, someone, who spends a lot of time without touching He loses a lot of practice?

Here we must distinguish between practice and skills. The procedural memory is not recorded by any attempt. Requires repetitionThe field is even a reward. In the same article, they note that when we learn a new ability, we usually get a reward: move, satisfaction from the playing of the melody, recognition … We are still looking for food in the maze. We need repetition and stimulus. If one of these two factors fails, we can lose their skills over time.

Therefore, someone, who traveled too little, even if it becomes good, may not set the procedural memory. Despite this, when you again get on the car, for many years that pass, it will not start from scratch. The same thing happens with a bicycle. If this was not practical enough or simply did not like it, and it was not felt that there was a reward, while we could begin to do this for a while.

As for the tools, if there was enough repetition, Fundamentals are rarely forgottenThe field on the other hand, the skill should constantly practice. If you were a piano star and stop playing for many years, you will not touch so much light, but you will know where there are different notes and you will know how to place your fingers on the keyboard.

In short, it is not as simple as remembering or not to remember. But it is clear that it is easier to remember the bicycle to remember than the capital of Macedonia. Remember: Skopje.