How reliable are memories?
According to neuroscience, not so much.
When we store memories we often miss details, and when we recall memories, we distort them a little each time. Once a memory’s in there, it becomes nearly impossible to distinguish between reality, and the bits our brain fabricated.
Multiple studies have even shown how simple it is to implant a “false memory” in someone’s head. It appears that the same brain regions light up whether you’re actually witnessing something, or you’re visualizing something in your mind’s eye. If you can remember seeing something, you believe it — even if you only “saw” it in your brain.
Why is this so interesting?
