Why parents forget children in the vehicle according to science

News have become frequent that some parents forget their children inside the vehicle, are it really negligence?, What does science say?

Many experts agree that It is not about negligence. The neuroscientist and psychologist David Diamond, from the University of Southern Florida, United States, studies these types of cases and so far it is considered that these incidents They are due to a change in the routine and in the way in which memory and brain work. Therefore, it would be enough to follow some tricks and get a little support from new technologies, in order to avoid such lapse.

In most cases analyzed there is a pattern of behavior that persists. According to Diamond: “All parents report having suffered a Memory lapses. And almost everyone forgot their children in the car after changing their routine, either because they decided to take a different route or because they had to take babies to the saved before ”.

Forget children inside the vehicle

According to what is stated by Diamond, any father could forget his baby in the vehicle, provided that something is done that is not usual. The neuroscientist points out that: "It is not just the parents who go through this situation: there are records of airline pilots that, being so accustomed to piloting the same plane model, are involved in accidents when they are assigned another aircraft," To which he adds: “Therefore, we use calendars, alarms and post-ps to remember new tasks. Our brain needs help not to forget ".

In the process of storing and activating memories, different parts of the brain are involved. In particular, there are two different areas that enter competition. Diamond highlights the role of basal ganglia as the main mechanism in mental gear. Said part of the brain operates at the subconscious level, which means that the use of skills or stored information is made without having to think actively.

The expert also states that: “Basal ganglia are our automatic pilot. They allow us, for example, to lead without thinking about the movements of the pedals or the exact route to work ”.

Simultaneously, hippocampus and frontal cortex are used, responsible for processing and retaining information. This memory system is independent of the first. So that, While basal ganglia operate automatically, the hippocampus requires being consciously activated For stored data to return to thought. An external factor or a written reminder can work, although in some cases it does not happen.

When there is nervousness or tiredness, the hippocampus is affected, but the basal ganglia continue to function.

"In a way, the basal ganglia and the hippocampus compete inside our brain and when a mother or father forget her son in the car, it means that the hippocampus has lost the battle," explains Diamond. It is a situation that, unfortunately, can happen to anyone and Parents with sleep or stress, something common in the first months, are more likely.

Forgotten baby syndrome, how to avoid it?

The phenomenon of leaving forgotten babies in vehicles has become so frequent that some scientists and authorities have given him the name of the Forgotten baby syndrome. Non -governmental nonheatstroke organization estimates that more than 900 children have died since 1998 after being left in closed vehicles.

A suggestion to avoid these cases, in the first place, is to accept that any father can happen. Therefore, before closing the doors, it is urged to Verify, even twice, if the child is in the vehicle. Some mothers also keep an object close to remember the child; This can be attached to the key, to the cell phone or in the passenger seat. It can be a toy, a pacifier or a diaper. Another good habit is to place personal belongings in the rear of the car, next to the baby's chair.

Other mothers recommend installing a mirror in the vehicle to observe the baby. Similarly, there are several technologies that have been developed for this purpose. Some are "Child Reminder", there are also programs such as Babyonboard or Kars 4 Kids, which connect to the mobile GPS and emit alerts when the driver parks. Even the backseat application can be programmed to send automatic messages to certain contacts every time the car goes out. Messages are a reminder that the child can be in the back seat.

Finally, some modern car chairs have sensors that warn the driver, via mobile or sound alerts, which the child continues in the chair.

How to be better parents

Bibliography

• Kim, j. J., & Diamond, D. M. (2002). The Stressed Hippocampus, Synaptic Plasticity and Lost Memories. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 3(6), 453-462.
• Diamond, d. M., Campbell, a. M., Park, c. R., Halonen, j., & ZOLADZ, P. R. (2007). The temporary dynamics model of emotional memory processing: a synthesis on the neurobiological basis of stress-induced amnesia, flashbulb and traumatic memories, and the yerkes-dodson law. Neural Plasticity, 2007.