The Magic Doorway Effect

[icyfroth]

You know that feeling when you walk into a room and have no idea what you're doing in there?

This phenomena is often referred to as the "doorway effect" which, in layman's terms, refers to how we compartmentalize things in our brains.

It's like when you go into your bathroom positive you're finally going to scrub your tub, only to walk out a few minutes later holding your mouthwash, ready to watch Netflix for the night — then find yourself feeling frustrated in the morning because lo and behold, your tub is still dirty. Because somehow, again, you forgot why you went into the bathroom last night in the first place: To clean your tub.

Luckily, this sort of forgetfulness isn't laziness or apathy, and it's more common than you probably think.

While few people actually enjoy doing chores (and if you do, you're probably the best roommate ever), studies show that when we go from one room to another and immediately forget our purpose, there's a scientific explanation beyond our dislike of dirt and grime.

As Melissa Dahl at Science of Us puts it, "What happens in the kitchen, stays in the kitchen," referring to how we'll so easily walk into the kitchen intending to do the dishes or clean the oven, only to forget why we walked in to begin with, then leave the kitchen with a snack, leaving the dirty dishes and oven behind us.

What causes this strange phenomena?

There's a lot of interesting research on the subject, and it primarily connects to one component of our brains:

Memory.

For example, a 2014 study on memory showed that when participants walked through a door, they literally experienced a divide in their memory.

That's right: Crossing from one side of a door to the other (say, from your living room to your kitchen, where you are positive you are going to clean that oven) causes you to put up a literal mental block in your brain.

https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/forums/postpage/board-id/2500000007

Thank goodness! It's not just me!

[zanadoo_56]

I wonder if there is also a scientific answer for The Shopping List Minus One Phenomenon?

If I come across something that needs to be added to my next grocery shopping list do I write it down?  No.  I think, I won't forget that....and as it is only one item I probably won't foget it.

HOWEVER....if there are two items to remember, three items to remember, four items to remember (you get the idea), when I go to add them to my online order I can only remember the total number of items minus one. Every blasted time.

Four things to buy.....only three come to mind....and what the hell was the fourth????

Absolutely nothing comes to mind.  Sigh.

Or is it just me?

[not_for_sale2025]

I think confidence Vs self-doubt may be a part of it. I can remember everything I need to buy when it's a run of the mill shopping outing. And I am confident I'll get it right. But if what I have to buy or do is important to others, I start doubting myself and usually can't remember that 4th item either.

[lionrose.7]

I go up the road for Milk, come back with about 4 other things, go to make coffee, no milk, back up the road again

[zanadoo_56]

Isn't the human brain wonderful......in a frustrating, inaccurate, annoying, time wasting kind of way.

[davewil1964]

I must be supernormal.

When I enter a room with a specific task in mind, I retain that knowledge.

Finding my keys when they are in my hand, however...

[chameleon54]

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@lionrose.7 wrote:

I go up the road for Milk, come back with about 4 other things, go to make coffee, no milk, back up the road again

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When the wife phones me to pop into the shops on the way home from work we have a three items rule. I can only remember three random items for any length of time. Any more and I will be guaranteed to forget one or two.

[icyfroth]

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@davewil1964 wrote:

I must be supernormal.

When I enter a room with a specific task in mind, I retain that knowledge.

Finding my keys when they are in my hand, however...

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finding my keys when they're in my pocket is a thing,,,

[bright.ton42]

I've got a book called How to improve your Memory and I'm halfway through it but now i can't remember where i put  it.  

[icyfroth]

😄