The brain is a pretty cool organ, but sometimes it can fail us.

大腦是個很奇妙的器官，但有時候它也會辜負我們的期待。

Like when we forget someone's name, or blank on a test.

像有時候我們會忘記別人的名字，或考試時腦中一片空白。

But how can someone just forget something like that?

但為什麼人可以就這樣忘記一件事？

Well, to start off I want you to imagine what a penny looks like.

首先，我要你想像一美分硬幣長什麼樣子。

You're probably imagining Abraham Lincoln looking off to the right.

你可能馬上想到林肯往右邊看的樣子。

And that the coin is copper.

然後想到這硬幣是銅製的。

But you probably didn't recall the phrase above the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the penny.

但你很可能不記得錢幣背面林肯紀念館上方的那句話。

If you did, congrats!

如果你記得，恭喜！

But the reason we may have not remembered every single aspect of the coin is because frankly, it doesn't matter!

但我們記不起硬幣的每個細節的原因是，老實說，因為那些根本不重要！

All we need to know is how to distinguish a penny from any other coin, so we only remember the important parts, and store them in our long-term memory.

我們只需要知道如何辨別美分和其他硬幣就行了！因此，我們只記得重要的部分，然後把它們存到長期記憶區。

All of the small details of any experience like you watching this video for example are combined into one event in your brain's hippocampus.

任何經歷的細節，包括你正在看的這部影片，都在你腦中的海馬體被結合成一個事件。

You are essentially a network of neurons that records the association linked to the memory.

你基本上就是一組神經元網絡，記載著與記憶相關的事情。

And any of those associations, like hearing the name Blocko, can bring back that memory. But problems arise...

而任何相關的事，像是聽到 Blocko 這個名字，就能讓你喚回記憶，但是......

When there is more than one memory associated with a given cue.

當有很多記憶都與接收到的提示有關，問題就來了。

If you ever met someone who looks like an old friend, it may be difficult to remember this new person's name because that face already has some other meaning to you.

若你遇到和某個老朋友長很像的人，你或許會難以記住他的名字，因為那張臉孔對你已經有既定的意義。

And the memories are interfering with each other.

此外，不同的記憶也會彼此干擾。

Decay theory states that a memory slowly fades over time if it's not rehearsed often.

根據記憶衰變理論，一段很少被回憶起的記憶，會逐漸消逝。

So if you do not frequently think about something, you'll forget it.

所以如果你沒有時常回憶某些事情，你就會忘記。

It makes sense, but you also have to be paying attention in the first place if you ever want to recall that information.

這十分合乎邏輯，但若未來你想回憶起這些資訊，在一開始就得集中注意力。

So, what is something that you always forget?

所以，哪些事情是你總是會忘記的？

Did...did you forget it?

你......忘記是哪些了嗎？

I'm terrible with birthdays but luckily Facebook is there to save the day.

我非常不擅長記人的生日，但還好有 Facebook 幫忙。

Speaking of which, if you want to you can follow me on there.

說到這裡，如果你想要的話可以追蹤我的 Facebook。

As usual, I'll be answering a new question every Thursday, so ask anything you want to know in the comments or on Facebook and Twitter.

一如往常，每個禮拜四我會回答一個新的問題，所以請在 Facebook 或 Twitter 的留言區寫下任何你想問的問題。

I'm Blocko. This has been Life Noggin.

我是 Blocko。這裡是 Life Noggin。

Don't forget to keep on thinking!

記得多動腦思考！