June 23, 2010
A memory is only as real as the last time you remembered it
Although our memories always feel true, they’re extremely vulnerable to errant suggestions, clever manipulations and the old fashioned needs of storytelling. (The mind, it turns out, cares more about crafting a good narrative than staying close to the truth.)
. . .
[W]e like to think of our memories as being immutable impressions, somehow separate from the act of remembering them. But they aren’t. A memory is only as real as the last time you remembered it. The more you remember something, the less accurate the memory becomes.
—”Memory Is Fiction,” Jonah Lehrer, The Frontal Cortex, June 4, 2010
Via @jorunn
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“The more you remember something, the less accurate the memory becomes.”
I live to embellish. Remember and embellish.
While not an exceptional film, the movie Final Cut with Robin Williams explored this idea. That people’s memories are what they wanted to remember, not necessarily what actually happened.
thing is, you can make the same case for reality…even in the moment. having multiple intelligences around is of no use, either: the minute you go to confirm your interpetation against another’s you alter the reality and that past split second is suspect
and dreams? pshaw…
but i’m not sure why they’re all bothered about this. it’s one of the things that makes life extremely interesting…
well, if i’m remembering it right.
Therein lies the cure to PTSD!