Siya Patil (Week 14): Memories and Myths
Memories and Myths
Siya Patil
APENG P5
A lot of the fascinating things we hear about our minds and memories may seem too good to be true. And, quite frankly, they probably are!
Some of the most common myths about memory include the belief that memory could act like a video recorder and the enforcement of hypnosis on one’s brain can cause forgotten memories to resurface once again. While these concepts may sound cool, it still remains a myth!
One of the myths which stood out to me is the myth that memory is supposedly just like a tape recorder. According to an article by iLs Australia, this means that we presume that we have recorded an event which pertains to accuracy, but this is not quite true. Even the most emotionally charged or intriguing memories cannot be recalled to a guaranteed accuracy, no matter how realistic the playback of the memory is. For example, if you were to think about a previous conversation you had with someone, you may be able to remember all the words said by both parties perfectly. But, you’d likely miss a few small details, such as any hand movements, eye contact, and more.
The same article mentions a study which was taken to analyze participants’ ability to recall the memories associated with the tragic event of September 11, 2001. The tests were done the day of 9/11, a year later, three years later, and ten years after the event as well. The results prove that the “video recorder myth” is simply just a myth, as “at least one third of people relayed their experiences with different details just one year after 9/11” (aus.integratedlistening.com). Even the memories involved with traumatic experiences can be forgotten, so the possibility of our brains being able to mimic a video recorder is out of the question.
Although the coolest myths are pretty much always untrue, it’s still interesting to learn about the myths and understand why others believe them. What’s your favorite myth, and why?
Photo Source: https://www.canstockphoto.com/human-brain-video-maker-21944619.html
Hi Siya, I found your discussion about the different myths surrounding memory to be very interesting. Although many people may think that video recordings may help people resurface past memories, that is not always the case. I, for one, cannot recognize anything that is not embedded in my memory. We humans often overestimate the capacity of our brains, and what they can do. Similarly to many of the early perceptions of science, we will believe in the superficial facts.
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ReplyDeleteReading your blog and learning about the different myths was very interesting. It reminded me of another concept that I have learned a couple times before. Every time someone retells a story, the details get further and further off from the original story. I do not remember the exact phenomenon behind it, but it is very applicable to all of our lives. For example, if you have ever told someone a secret and told that person not to tell anyone, but somehow it got out, then you know exactly what I am talking about. By the time that story comes back around to you, presumably you flew to the moon and back in a Rocketship built by Steve jobs.
Hi Siya, I learned many new things from your blog about the different myths surrounding memory. The myth about memory being like a tape recorder seems very interesting and also ties in with the fact that memory can be rewritten or altered by new events. They can also be changed over time and this is a very common occurrence.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting topic! One of my favorite memory myths is that people can perfectly recall early childhood experiences. Studies have indicated that our brains are not developed enough before the age of 3 to properly form memories, which is referred to as infantile amnesia. Many will claim that they “remember” events like their first steps (my own Grandma has!) but it is more likely that they fabricated that memory from their parents’ retellings.
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ReplyDeleteHi Siya, our memories, are anything but tape recorders, if they were maybe we could remember things we study for tests, however, our memories can still be useful if they only capture the emotion we felt in a given moment rather than the minute details. After all it is my belief that memories are to help correct our mistakes, rather than relive them.
ReplyDeleteHey Siya, I would have to say that my favorite myth is the myths of ancient Greece and the Greek gods most notably about the goddess of death and the goddess of spring because she had the most just but unjust fate that the gods deserved being spirited away to be hades wife for eternity this is the one myth that I remember the most and to your point about tape recorder myths i feel as if all of them have some solidity and truth but overall are not what they appear to be and are remembered as a tale to be heeded.
ReplyDeleteHi Siya, I found it really interesting to look at some of the myths surrounding memories in your post. Even though it's just a myth, it sure would be handy if our memories were like tape recorders. If you think about it, myths are kind of like memories themselves; they carry the beliefs and often the culture of the place they originate from, and are able to persist years after their creation.
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