Trauma may also play a part. Remember "Rainman"? That may be a bad example, but my earliest occurance is burnt into my psyche: I was in daycare when I was two and stepped behind a swinging metal horse to see it coming at my face (i was a stupid kid) and the space between the fence post and the backend of the horse was smaller then my head. I can remember vividly all of the thirty or seconds before and after the (head) trauma. I had two black eyes and a busted nose. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to remember that time period if that event had not occurred. And I have read about memories and one of the previous posts is correct about the brain function not "ripe" for long-term memory until at least two. I have very smart friends who don't remember before seven and interesting enough English was not the language used in her house so she like the original poster started English learning (submersion probably) when their memory recall kicks in. So, a new question--Does a shift in primary language when starting school effect how long range memories are accessed? Do you lose 'access' if your main language changes? Heady stuff for a cognitive scientist or early childhood psychologist possibly. Somebody need a PhD thesis for a dissertation?
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Trauma may also play a part. Remember "Rainman"? That may be a bad example, but my earliest occurance is burnt into my psyche: I was in daycare when I was two and stepped behind a swinging metal horse to see it coming at my face (i was a stupid kid) and the space between the fence post and the backend of the horse was smaller then my head. I can remember vividly all of the thirty or seconds before and after the (head) trauma. I had two black eyes and a busted nose. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to remember that time period if that event had not occurred. And I have read about memories and one of the previous posts is correct about the brain function not "ripe" for long-term memory until at least two. I have very smart friends who don't remember before seven and interesting enough English was not the language used in her house so she like the original poster started English learning (submersion probably) when their memory recall kicks in. So, a new question--Does a shift in primary language when starting school effect how long range memories are accessed? Do you lose 'access' if your main language changes? Heady stuff for a cognitive scientist or early childhood psychologist possibly. Somebody need a PhD thesis for a dissertation?