How far back can human memory reach?

Ludzka pamięć potrafi zachować informacje z wczesnego dzieciństwa, choć zwykle są to fragmentaryczne i często emocjonalne wspomnienia. W większości przypadków pierwsze wspomnienia pochodzą z okresu między trzecim a czwartym rokiem życia. Przed tym okresem występuje zjawisko znane jako "amnezja dziecięca", która oznacza brak zdolności do przypominania sobie wydarzeń z pierwszych lat życia.

Najwcześniejszym wspomnieniem, które mogę przypomnieć, jest chwila, gdy miałem około czterech lat. Pamiętam, jak bawiłem się w parku Łazienki w Warszawie z moją rodziną. Był to ciepły, słoneczny dzień. Pamiętam zapach kwiatów i dźwięk szumienia drzew. Moja matka trzymała mnie za rękę, a mój ojciec prowadził nas przez park. Był tam staw z białymi łabędziami i pamiętam, jak jeden z nich podpłynął do nas, kiedy podchodziliśmy do brzegu.

I think that with a diary it is easier to reconstruct certain situations - I think that is why great families, having the greatest impact on reality, care so much about the memory of their ancestors and the family's tradition.

Personally, I have a few childhood flashes, but few - one when I was 3 years old.

The world of conspiracy theories says that children can remember something they couldn't have experienced - as if something from a previous life.

Personally, I remember one childhood dream-nightmare from war when I get shot and die.

However, it seems to me that in the world of theories of this type there is still too much chaff to find a reasonable explanation.

When it comes to long-term memory, there are cases where people are able to recall details and experiences from the distant past, even from early childhood. However, the strength and precision of memory can vary from person to person.

It is worth noting that memory does not work like cameras or recorders that record and store exact copies of events. Memory is susceptible to distortion, fragments can be forgotten, and emotions, interpretations, and other factors can affect the way we remember.

My most distant memory is when I was sitting on the wall when I lived in the countryside with my mother and I remember vaguely that she sang something for me.

Human memory has limitations and varies between individuals. When it comes to autobiographical memory, the ability to recall past experiences and events, most people have difficulty remembering details from their early childhood (usually before the age of 3-4). What we remember from childhood is often limited to important events or strong emotions.

However, our ability to remember information can vary depending on many factors, such as individual abilities, memory training, and the importance of the event. Some people may have a better memory for past details than others.

In the case of cultural or historical memory, which includes information and events passed down through generations, we can reach far back through documents, written records, archaeological evidence and scientific research. Thanks to them, we can recreate and understand many aspects of past civilizations and historical events.

However, it is important to remember that our ability to recall and retain information is limited, and the timing and processes of forgetting can affect our memory. It is therefore essential to use other sources and methods, such as written records and research, to get a fuller picture of the past.