Memory Does Not Work Like a Video Recorder


​A lot of people think that our brain records memories like a camera records a video. They think that when we remember something we just play it back exactly as it happened. This sounds like it makes sense. Sometimes memories feel really vivid. You might remember what you wore on a day or what someone said during a fight. You might even remember the moment you got some exciting news. Because these memories feel so real, it is easy to think that they are stored perfectly in our minds.

The way psychology sees it is very different.


    • Memory Is Like Rebuilding, Not Recording





Our brain does not store memories like a video file. Instead it stores pieces of what happened, like how we felt, what we saw, what we heard and what it meant. When we remember something, our brain puts these pieces together to make the memory. So remembering is not like playing back a video; it is like rebuilding a scene from little parts.


Because of this, memories can change over time. Each time we remember something, the memory can be a little different because of the following:


- New things that happen to us


- How we feel


- Talking to people


- Things we learn later


This means that the memory you remember today might not be the same as the one you had years ago.


        • Why Memories Are Not Always Right




Our brain is more concerned with understanding what is going on than getting every detail right. This helps us make sense of the world quickly. It also means we can make mistakes. Sometimes our brain fills in missing parts without us even realising it. For example, people might be really sure they remember something that did not happen exactly like they think.


Studies have shown that little suggestions can change our memories. If someone hears a version of what happened, their brain might start to use that information instead. Memory like this is not always right.


                 • The Confidence Illusion




One weird thing about memory is that being sure about something does not always mean it is true. People can feel really sure about a memory. Still be wrong. This is why what eyewitnesses say in court is not always reliable. Someone might really think their memory is correct even if it has changed over time.

         • Why Our Memory Is Actually Helpful

Even though our memory is not perfect, the way it works is actually helpful. Of storing every little thing that happens to us, our brain focuses on what is important and what it means. This helps us learn from what happens, make decisions and deal with things.


If our brain worked like a video recorder, we would have much information to handle.




  • The Real Nature of Memory


Memory is not a record of the past. It is a process that changes as we grow and have experiences. So the time a memory feels really clear, remember that your brain is not playing back a video; it is rebuilding a story from little pieces of the past. Sometimes those pieces can change.


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For more content stay connected with Psychology: Myth vs Reality by 

Tanya Kakkar

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