[Opinion] Danger of Forced Forgetting

Human brain is the most complicated and mysterious structure in the universe that is composed of some 1.4 billion nerve cells and some 100 billion neuroglia supplying nutrients to the nerve system. And it is believed that those cells produce up to 10 trillion different combinations. According to brain physiology, the human brain already formed the brain stem, a key part controlling such bio functions as breathing and pulsing, some 500 million years ago in the reptile age. The limbic system serving as a media for emotion and motivation began to develop some 200 to 300 million years ago in the primitive mammal age, and the cerebral cortical layer controlling language, reasoning, decision-making and mental-imaging functions was formed about 50 million years ago.

▷The head containing the human brain increase by four times after birth. By the age 5, an infant’s head grows to some 90% of that of an adult, and by 10, it fully grows. An adult brain weighs about 1.2 to 1.5kg, accounting for 2% of the total body mass. Psychologists say that the human brain is composed of three parts. The first one is a force, or energy, part that motivates desires. The second accepts tactual, auditory and visual information to analyze and store it. The other one plans actions through comparison and decision-making.

▷Since human activities, such as remembering, speaking and moving, are done through the brain, damage to the organ leads to memory or behavioral failure. Sometimes, it can lead to a paralysis of a part of or the entire body. What the brain does to remember things is incredible, but what it does to forget is even mysterious. As time goes by, we are programmed to forget painful and unnecessary memory. Forgetting as well as remembering is a blessing, therefore. We would not be able to live without forgetting things. A variety of learning programs are devised to stimulate brain development, but the brain is such a sensitive organ that an undue attempt can only do harm. In particular, the attempt to lose a certain part of memory is very dangerous.

▷By this time of the year, we attend a number of yearend parties called `forgetting the year.` Forgetting is letting some memory go and it’s good to forget painful memory and get prepared for a new year. Still, we should avoid excessively drinking and smoking to forget. When you force the bran to stop working, you might end up hurting the entire brain. Excessive drinking and smoking is a main cause of a stroke. Just let the brain take care of the forgetting thing, and try to stimulate its functions instead.

Bae Kyu-han, Guest Editorial Writer, Professor at Kukmin University, baeku@hotmail.com