As a parent, youāve likely experienced the frustration and embarrassment of calling your child by their siblingās or your petās name. Youāre not alone, and youāre not losing your mind. In fact, a recent TikTok video has brought a 2016 Duke University study back into the spotlight, revealing this phenomenon is extremely common.
The researchers analyzed more than 1,700 participants across five studies and found that more than 95% of participants reported being called the wrong name by a family member at some point. The findings suggest mixing up names is a natural cognitive glitch and not a sign of memory loss or cognitive decline.
So, why does this happen? According to Good Housekeeping, itās all about automatic processes. When weāre stressed out or multitasking, our brains rely on these automatic responses to quickly retrieve the information we need.
āThe brain is a magnificent computer network,ā Julie Dumas, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry, told the lifestyle brand, āand information is organized within an interconnected semantic network of stored data.ā
Almost half the participants in the Duke University study reported the person doing the misnaming was distracted, tired or frustrated at the time. This is why you might find yourself calling your spouse by your childās name when youāre racing around the house.
āWhen youāre rushed, stressed or multi-tasking, you rely on these automatic responses to spit out the information you need ā in this case, your childās name,ā Dumas explained. āFor example, my son Emmettās name is on speed dial in my brain, so I often call my husband and even our cat by that name if Iām racing around the house.ā
Although mixing up names is not necessarily a sign of forgetfulness or aging, itās understandable to worry. However, if you donāt realize youāve used the wrong moniker, or if others start noticing significant memory problems, it may be worth seeking medical advice, Good Housekeeping noted.
In the meantime, take comfort in knowing that mixing up your kidsā names is a normal and natural occurrence.
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