We all have experienced this situation when we enter a room, we suddenly forgot what we are supposed to do as if our mind went completely blank and no idea why we are there for. Thankfully, scientists came to the rescue, searching the real cause of those baffling and annoying moments and they found out the real culprit, the doorway. According to them, entering or exiting through a doorway serves as an event boundary in the mind, which separates events of the activity and files them away. Plus, recalling the purpose of stepping into a room became a difficult task because the activities that are stored are divided and categorized by our brain. The doorway acts as a mental block, hindering us from remembering the decision we made before. Moreover, researchers suggested that it is not the new environment that kills the memory but instead the evil deceiving doorway.

Furthermore, mental event boundaries are not a frustrating talent we have but rather helpful in organizing our thoughts and memories. This research helps architects to design spaces that are more effective by considering if it is necessary to put some doorway or not.

But if you want to remember the purpose of entering a certain room, try reminding yourself by putting a sticky note on your forehead or write a note on your palm. Make sure it is legible enough to read or else you might be lost again. Good luck and Enjoy!