The quirky cognitive effect that everyone experiences but few understand
Table of Contents
Why do we forget when we walk through doors?
Have you ever done that thing where you walk into a room and you can’t for the life of you remember why it is you went in there?
I certainly have.
As we age it can be easy to attribute it to cognitive decline - but there are people in their twenties who experience this too, so what’s going on there then?
Have you ever wondered if forgetfulness like this might be linked to something more serious?
No need to fear, because what we’re experiencing is actually a recognised phenomenon and it’s called “The Doorway Effect” (or sometimes “The Location Updating Effect”).
The Science Behind the Doorway Effect and Memory Loss
It’s not that there’s something magical about walking through a doorway, but more something about transitioning between different spaces or contexts.
For example, it could be that you experience it when you park up and go into a shop - many a time I have driven off having forgotten to buy something that I had in mind on arrival!
So, whether it’s a doorway or a different location, the change acts as an “event boundary”, i.e. it’s the signal to your brain that there is a transition happening from one place (or context) to another.
Our brains have a tendency to organise experiences into discrete events…compartmentalising things.
So when we move between spaces our brain metaphorically moves us into a new box and, unfortunately, sometimes information temporarily gets lost (ie what we were intending to do).
So whatever intention you had in the previous room gets forgotten as you move into the next one.
The effect can be even worse when we're mentally fatigued, as a high cognitive load puts extra strain on our working memory. When our mental resources are taxed, it becomes harder to remember tasks or intentions.
Common Scenarios of Forgetfulness: When Memory Slips Happen
Forgetting why you went into a room
Losing your train of thought in a conversation as you moved into a different room
Misplacing things after taking them into a different room
This phenomenon isn’t limited to physical spaces, it can also happen from the comfort of your own seat…when you’re digitally moving from one space to another:
Switching between apps or browser tabs
Getting distracted and not remembering why you opened a new program on your PC
The Link Between Forgetfulness, Anxiety, and Cognitive Load
Those situations can easily fuel worries about cognitive decline or even dementia, especially when anxiety heightens our focus on memory lapses.
But that can just make things worse, because the more anxious and worried we get the more likely we are to forget something, due to the fact that anxiety and worry consume significant mental resources which leaves less capacity for memory.
Is Forgetfulness a Sign of Cognitive Decline? Understanding the Frustration
While it might please our step counters when we’re trotting up and down stairs repeatedly because we keep forgetting what we were intending to do (guilty as charged!), it can be annoying and a bit of a time waster if it’s happening a lot.
Wasting time backtracking and looking for things makes us less efficient in what we’re doing, and means there's more of a potential for oversights.
It can also be a bit embarrassing when we forget what we’re talking about mid-conversation.
Especially if we’re in a professional setting - that can set us off worrying that we look unprepared and an anxious vicious cycle can start to form where the anticipation of forgetting something actually then leads to us forgetting it.
Unsurprisingly, this is incredibly frustrating and can lead to us second-guessing and doubting ourselves…again, contributing to that vicious cycle and making us feel more stressed.
It’s not all bad though!
The effect can actually be really helpful in some circumstances, for example, helping you to leave stress behind as you go into a relaxed space - it’s kind of like having a natural “reset” button for our brains.
But what can we do about it if it is starting to be troublesome and impact our lives?
Practical Strategies to Overcome the Doorway Effect:
Carry a reminder object related to your task
If you carry an object with you that relates to the task as you transition from one context to the next you can take advantage of something called tactile memory.
This is a type of sensory memory related to touch.
The thing that you're carrying acts as a physical cue for the thing that you wanted to keep in mind because our brains link physical sensations with specific thoughts or actions.
For example, holding a relevant tool, such as a pen might remind you of needing to write something down.
Or even holding a familiar object like a key-chain or fidget spinner can serve as a tactile anchor even if it's not directly related to the task in hand.
As we feel or interact with the object, the physical sensation prompts our memory to prevent forgetting as we move between spaces.
Mentally rehearse your intention before entering a new space
As you move from one context to the next, verbalise your intention to yourself which will reinforce it and make it less likely that you will forget.
Visualisation also helps in strengthening the mental link to retain the memory of your intention, as can using a keyword or short phrase relating to the task.
For example, if you're going to grab a coat from another room, mentally repeat "coat" as you cross the threshold which should anchors the task in your mind.
By engaging your brain with the task before transitioning between spaces through mental rehearsal strategies it reduces the likelihood of forgetting.
Minimize distractions to reduce cognitive load.
As I mentioned above, if our cognitive load is high then this can make us more susceptible to experiencing the doorway effect.
To reduce cognitive load, we have to try to limit the amount of information our brains have to juggle at once.
There are a few things we can do to help with this like decluttering our environments, prioritizing one task at a time, and minimizing background distractions like noise or multitasking.
When we have less mental strain, it's easier to stay focused and remember our goals as contexts change, eg moving between rooms.
So it helps minimise the possibility of becoming overwhelmed by new stimuli in the new space.
By simplifying what you're thinking about, you maintain a clearer sense of purpose as you transition from one place to the next.
Embrace the Doorway Effect: Forgetfulness as a Normal Cognitive Process
So, next time you find yourself walking into a room and drawing a blank on why you went there, remember—it’s not a sign of a failing memory.
The Doorway Effect is something we all experience, a natural part of how our brains transition between environments, because it's processing new information and sensory inputs.
Instead of feeling frustrated, think of it as your brain’s way of managing when adjusting to new environments or contexts.
Embrace it as a feature of the human condition, and apply strategies like mental rehearsal or reducing distractions to sharpen your focus over time.
FAQ:
Can depression cause memory loss?
Can anxiety affect your memory?
Is forgetfulness a sign of stress?
Is it normal to forget things as you get older?
When is forgetfulness a concern?
Is forgetfulness always dementia?
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