Do we have primal memories?

[Baitball Blogger]

I ask, because I remember as a child walking into an enclosed area, where I was assaulted by a very strong snake musky odor. It stoked every nerve in my body and sent signals to my brain of imminent danger. The thing is, I never knew the scent before, nor that it was attributed to snakes, but my body seemed to have a long forgotten memory.

So, is it possible that through the centuries, there are some memories that get passed on from one generation to another?

Oh, in case anyone was wondering, I backed out slowly and never went to the place again.

[WarGamer]

1. Programmed Sensory Reception

Between the olfactory bulb and the amygdala it's all hard wired.

All mammals have it right away... no learning necessary

[Midnight Writer]

2. I think so.

Birds are born knowing how to make nests. Spiders are born knowing how to spin intricate webs specific to their species.

Mammalian mothers know how to care for their young. Terrier dogs know how to hunt and kill small animals. Cats know how to hunt and groom themselves.

The intricate relationships between species, even "non-intelligent" ones such as insects, are amazingly complex and inborn.

I don't think we fully appreciate the influence of our "pre-existence" on our present existence. We are born with major parts of our personalities already in place. Newer studies show that physical activities by the genetic father at the time of conception can shape the physical attributes of his children.

I would not discount the possibility that some of our genetic inheritance take the shape of memories, dreams, intuitions.

It would be a natural survival instinct to sense the presence of snakes or predators, just as it is to fear heights.

[TexLaProgressive]

7. "Cats know how to hunt and groom themselves."

You left out cats know how to turn humans into slaves.

[Midnight Writer]

8. My cat was lying on my lap at the time and I didn't want to type anything that may upset him.

You wouldn't like him when he is upset.

[TexLaProgressive]

10. My mistress is 25 miles away- I should be safe 😆

[Midnight Writer]

11. Yet you still looked over your shoulder before you typed that, didn't you?

[TexLaProgressive]

12. She'll make me pay

[anciano]

3. Interesting question....

I believe that evolution has given us primal "instincts", but I'm not so sure about primal "memories".
Although, should there actually be such as thing as a universal collective unconscious, it would necessarily have to include primal memory.

[Disaffected]

4. We all have primal instincts,

would be the explanation of your reaction to the snake odor.

However there is no evidence of primal memory if one defines that as memories getting passed on from ancestor to offspring.

When I was a kid, I recall stories of infants who began speaking a foreign language without having had any exposure to that language. It was sometimes attributed to a relative having spoken that language which ability was passed on as genetic material at conception.

[Ping Tung]

5. "a very strong snake musky odor" Elon may have been in your basement.

[Frasier Balzov]

6. Probably the same genetic memory which makes evolution operate.

How your brain can access it must vary greatly.