What is habit memory? Can you still form habits if you can’t form memories?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Habit memory is the idea that habits are formed partly through memorization. This isn’t necessarily true. You can learn and memorize new things, but it’s still possible to form habits without memorization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more about habit memory and how it works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Editor\u2019s note: This article is part of\u00a0Shortform\u2019s guide to habits<\/a>. If you like what you read here, there\u2019s plenty more to check out in the guide!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You might think habits are the same as memory, but they\u2019re actually distinct processes in the brain. In this case, habit memory, isn’t really the way to form habits. Researchers believe habits are formed and stored in the basal ganglia<\/a>, part of the more \u201cprimitive\u201d low-level part of the brain. Even people who are incapable of forming new memories can learn new habits<\/strong>. Here’s why habit memory doesn’t actually depend on memory at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the 2000\u2019s, a patient named Eugene had a disease that destroyed a major part of his brain dealing with memory. He had anterograde amnesia \u2013 he was incapable of forming new memories (like in the movie Memento). He\u2019d introduce himself to people dozens of times in a day, and every day seemed entirely new to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But surprisingly, Eugene was able to form new habits. He could take walks by himself around the block and get back home, even though he wasn\u2019t able to draw a map of the houses on his block. He could find his way to the bathroom, even though he couldn\u2019t consciously point out which door led to the bathroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHabit Memory: The Man With No Memory Who Still Formed Habits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n