• Question: Can the memory be affected by parental genes? My memory enables me to repeat some things straight back after hearing it once, but my parents can't do that. Why?

    Asked by Nancy.R to Reka on 10 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Reka Nagy

      Reka Nagy answered on 10 Nov 2016:

      Your memory is affected by your parent’s genes, but it is not completely genetic – some of how well you remember things will be due to the environment you grew up in. Studies on the genetics of neurological things such as memory are quite difficult to interpret because they give very varied results.

      There are also different types of memory:
      1. episodic memory is your ability to remember events that have happened to you.
      2. Semantic memory is your ability to remember facts and knowledge that is not related to your own personal experiences.
      3. Working memory, which is the short-term memory involved in, among other things, you being able to repeat things back after you’ve heard them. Studies on this show that it is about 40% heritable, so a large part of it is not due to genes.

      In addition to genetics, age also affects your ability to remember things – so even though you inherited your genes from your parents, you are younger than them, you have a quicker mind so you’re more able to remember things!

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