"Wait, what was I looking for?" Standing frozen in front of the fridge, I realized I wasn't a klutz after all

When preparing dinner, or on a night when you want to take a breather after a bath.
The moment you eagerly head to the refrigerator and open the slightly heavy door with a "click."

While feeling the cool air on my face, I often fall into a state of "complete nothingness."

"...Huh? What did I come here to get again?"

Was it barley tea, mayonnaise, or perhaps the cheese the kids asked for?

Even though I should have had a clear purpose in my head just a few seconds ago, as I stand in front of the open door bathed in cold air, the memory has completely vanished.

When I have no choice but to close the door and leave the kitchen, I suddenly remember, "Oh! It was barley tea!"—this unreasonable loop.

Don't you ever feel a little down, thinking, "Have I finally become this much of a klutz?"

But please, rest assured.

When I looked into it, this "freezing phenomenon in front of the fridge" isn't happening because we are klutzes.

The name of that memory lapse is

Actually, this strange phenomenon has a proper name in the worlds of psychology and brain science: the "Doorway Effect (Location Updating Effect)." It turns out it really exists.

It is said that when the human brain moves from one space to another and crosses a "boundary (like a door)," it has a function that judges, "The requirements for the previous room are now finished. Okay, next!" and resets the memory held just before (short-term memory) once.

In other words, by moving from the living room to the kitchen and crossing the boundary line of the "refrigerator door," your brain snapped the memory folder shut to adapt to the new environment.

Isn't it a bit interesting that the memory of coming to get barley tea didn't disappear, but rather your brain was just trying to be helpful by pressing the reset button, thinking, "Okay! From here on, it's the refrigerator's turn! Please have some new information!"?

The inside of the refrigerator is full of "various information"

Furthermore, another reason we forget our purpose is the "overwhelming amount of information" inside the refrigerator.

The moment we open the refrigerator door, a lot of things jump into our eyes.

Natto nearing its expiration date, a slightly wilted cucumber, dressing left just a little at the bottom of the bottle. They all speak to our brains at once, saying, "Use me!" or "I'm good until tomorrow!"

The amount of information the human brain can temporarily remember (working memory) is only about the size of a small desk.

Because the "chatty information" from the refrigerator comes crashing down onto it, the original purpose that was placed at the very edge—"I came to get barley tea"—falls right off the desk.

That's why we end up doing strange things like, "I forgot why I came here, but I might as well eat this yogurt that's about to expire."

Talking to yourself can be surprisingly helpful

You might be thinking, "But isn't there at least some way to prevent this?"

So, let me share something I found while researching that made me think, "Aha!"

In the field of brain science, there is research that says speaking out loud makes memories easier to retain (this is apparently called the "production effect").

They say that just by saying "I'm going to get some barley tea" or "Barley tea, barley tea, barley tea!" out loud while heading to the fridge, you might be able to counter the doorway effect.

It sounds like a rather unreliable solution, but if you try it, it's actually quite effective.

There is a risk that your family might hear you and look at you suspiciously, wondering, "Uh, are you talking to yourself...?" but that can be a source of laughter, so it might be okay.

Our brains are working hard; we aren't klutzes

This "doorway effect" or "phenomenon of memories slipping away" actually happens more often when we are tired or when our heads are full of work or housework.

There is no need to feel down and think, "I forgot again."

It is actually proof of a healthy brain that is working desperately to organize overflowing information and adapt to new environments.

Every day, we move from room to room while juggling so many tasks.

When you stand there in the cold air of the fridge thinking, "...?", please be a little kind to yourself and think, "Ah, my brain's desk is just full because I'm thinking about too many things right now." Your brain is really working hard every day.

When you think, "Oh, I did it again," please remember this "doorway effect" and forgive yourself. If you have any "relatable forgetful episodes" of your own, please share them with me in secret so we can laugh them off!

Just as I was heading to the kitchen, chanting "Cheese, cheese, cheese..." in my heart...

"You know, Mom"

"......Huh?"

▼ For those who want to look at more "mysteries"

Just like when we open the fridge door, our brains might even be misjudging the "weight" of products.

The irony of finding what you were looking for right after you bought it. The true nature of the clumsy, endearing blind spot our brains are hiding.