The human brain is an extraordinary machine, but as we get to know and understand it better, we discover that it has a very particular way of working. For some things it is incredibly precise, and for others it has no problem inventing or making mistakes. A solid example is found in false memories. This psychological phenomenon has a huge impact on legal processes around the globe; however, it can affect all kinds of memories, no matter how insignificant they are.
Think of all the songs you know by heart... and the parts of their lyrics you have changed without realizing it. Try to recall the dialogue of your favorite movie, and most likely you will be surprised to discover that you were wrong. That has happened to me on several occasions, and I am sure my brain will continue to unleash small betrayals at will. Not convinced? In that case, we invite you to watch the following video: At the beginning it presents a list of fifteen very simple English words, and all it asks is to remember as many as possible. Don't cheat!
False memories
I calculate that the last words were the ones you remembered most easily, but if you placed "sweet" on the list... the truth is that it was never there. What happened? That is nothing more than a false memory in action. Memories begin their formation in the hippocampus, a region where new neurons develop with some regularity.
Data is stored by alternating neurons and creating connections, but on more than one occasion they have a certain emphasis on the details we consider relevant. The video gives an example with a quote. We can clearly remember the person and the place, however, the same does not happen with their clothes, makeup, or the number of seats in the cinema. As if that were not enough, memories are susceptible to new information. If it interferes between the original experience and the recollection, it could modify or even completely replace our memory, giving rise to a "new truth".
The problem is that false memories can intervene at the least desired moments. This causes multiple conflicts within the legal space, and the only logical path for justice is to reduce its dependence on testimony based on eyewitnesses (without forgetting that defense lawyers will do their best to attack your memory). As a closing, some studies managed to implant false childhood memories, for example, getting lost in a shopping mall. The process worked in only 25 percent of participants, but mixing a lie with several truths tends to be effective.
