A Memory of Something That Never Happened!

Strange but true, psychologists say in a recent study, that one person in five remember events that never did take place.

They said that many of our most treasured memories might never have actually happened.

False Memories may Affect Behaviour Over a Long Time
A new study has shown that people can easily create false memories of their past and such memories can have long-term effects on their behaviour.

The findings have highlighted the fallibility of memory - and explain why two people can have varied recollections of the same conversations and events.

University of Hull researchers asked 1,600 students whether they had experienced a false memory.

A fifth said they had experienced 'fictional' memories, mostly dating back to when they were four to eight years old, reported the journal Psychological Science.

Scientists Pinpoints Brain Waves That Distinguish False Memories from Real Ones
Psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania have for the first time pinpointed brain waves that distinguish false memories from the real ones.

"Autobiographical memory provides us with a sense of identity and it is usually accurate enough to help us negotiate our lives," the Daily Mail quoted researcher Giuliana Mazzoni as saying.

"But as our study shows, not all that we remember about our past is true. Our research also shows that this phenomenon of non-believed memories is much more frequent than people had imagined.

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"Crucially, if these memories are not challenged by some form of evidence, they would still be considered part of the individual's autobiographical experience," said Mazzoni.

The work has also raised concerns about the way therapists 'recover' lost memories of child abuse in adults.

People With Autobiographical Memory Loss Still Sensitive to Others
A new study has found that people who have lost their personal memories due to a devastating brain injury might still be able to understand other people’s feelings and intentions.

Source-ANI