Are memories perfect copies of reality?

Answer 1

Some schools of thought subscribe to the idea that we take in an iconic representation of visual stimuli that is unprocessed, and then goes onto other areas such as the hippocampus etc. But many studies contradict this which show that some sort of semantic representation must exist, with regards to the involvement of long-term memory.
To make a really long story short, your memory for events and even for simple stimuli are strife with errors and no they are not perfect "copies of reality".

BUT!!! everytime you remember something, you are creating a new memory trace in your hippocampus.. and also strengthening the existing one along with the neocortical component. So, while it is not an exact copy.. a copy of your original memory trace is still made, along with strengthening the original memory trace, and this is combined with the newly created memory trace (which was made simply by thinking about something).. that is why many times you can be convinced that a certain event occurred in a certain way.... when it occurred in a radically different way.

Answer 2

I, myself, would have to say no and unfortunately so.

We each have our own P.O.V. (point of view) and that tends to skew reality to some extent. But one's own personal memories is what holds true for each of us. Most humans tend to use the colours of their palet (or memories) with how their psyche chooses to see them. Emotions and of course, the psyche, enter into the equation greatly regardless of how seperately or removed one prefers to view themselves as being from any given situation. Too many influences or maybe not enough of them can affect the hue of any given memory. Time passes and so with it comes a better understanding of that memory. It can alter with emotional ties and greater insight. Some images never go away, for sure, and those are the ones that remain real. But to expect perfection is impossible. It doesn't exist.

Answer 3

Can't be. .It's like a number of cameras clicking on an object , an activity or an event or a part of it at the same time and yet each shall have a different (picture or photo)image,at least in details.These inbuilt characteristics of each camera could be likened to the different perceptions people have.Reality being one,each of the observer sees it as per his/her perception.Memories being saved or stored perceptions,are bound to be different from the reality.Add to it,could be system losses like inaccuracy in recall and distortions(different interpretations) and so on,which make memories still more different from reality.

Answer 4

Not even close. Recent research suggests that the more you consider and mull over a memory, the less that memory resembles actual events. Even though our justice system places a high value on eyewitness testimony, that kind of evidence is just about the least reliable evidence admitted at court.

Answer 5

Memories are so bad, they practically don't use witnesses in trials anymore. They have to find a bunch of witnesses to get a general idea of what happened so they'll know what leads to follow, then they can process forensic evidence and not even use the witnesses.

Answer 6

Absolutely not! Your memory os only as good as your understanding of the memory. Memories are often warped by perspective. Childhood memories are often innacurate because the child doesn't really know how to deal with what happened...eg...child abuse.

Answer 7

I would say no.

For one thing, it always seems that a retrospective of an event is more glamorous than we originally thought of it.

How often do we look back on a year that we thought was bad and think, "That wasn't that bad?"

Answer 8

Of course not. Does anyone remember the Big Bang? Did it happen?

Answer 9

beware people who claim to be experts. they might or might not be

Answer 10

NO