Memory
An email correspondence recently reminded me of something I read somewhere:
Recent research had shown that memory is a tool, not a record-keeping system:
the brain changes memories to make us act more efficiently; we apply the ever-changing incident we recall to new situations -- which is why our memory is unreliable, surprisingly so.
And thus it is apparently a fallacy that it is all stored in there, videotaped by the brain.
I kinda believe that.
But the feelings, the impressionistic remnants of our experiences still symbolize what happened, I think.
Our memories are a poetic view of the past, as well as a learning tool to make us into a mean, lean survival machine.
Recent research had shown that memory is a tool, not a record-keeping system:
the brain changes memories to make us act more efficiently; we apply the ever-changing incident we recall to new situations -- which is why our memory is unreliable, surprisingly so.
And thus it is apparently a fallacy that it is all stored in there, videotaped by the brain.
I kinda believe that.
But the feelings, the impressionistic remnants of our experiences still symbolize what happened, I think.
Our memories are a poetic view of the past, as well as a learning tool to make us into a mean, lean survival machine.
posted by Aisha | 12:52 AM
3 Comments:
I like the idea that although the facts of the memory might be fuzzy, the emotional component stays the same.
very well said, aisha
being an older person, I find some comfort in that...
Jerry
A poetic view of the past. Just thinking about that. Nice.
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