system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How does memory function without object permanence, such as my 4 month old recognizing me?
gpt
You are confusing two different things.

Your child recognizes you by sight and smell. Object permanence refers to your child's concept of you when you are gone. At 4 months old they don't realize you are not there and will be back soon. In their mind, you don't exists. They don't "miss" you in the way a 5 or 6 year old would.