The Veracity of Memory

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When we try and remember ideas events or facts, we are actually remembering our version of events. If you think about what you ate for dinner on Thanksgiving five years ago you most likely would say the generic idea of a thanksgiving dinner, such as turkey, ham, sweet potatoes ect. You would not be able to recall and explain specific details that require attention and focus. Since memory is unique to the individual, is what we remember a realistic recollection of events and facts?
From Larry R. Squire’s book, Memory and Brain, we can classify Memory into three different stages: Immediate, Short Term, and Long Term. Immediate Memory is usually in terms of seconds, Short Term Memory (STM) is in terms of minutes and Long Term Memory (LTM) is in terms of days to years. Now, these three systems are just generalizations of the aspects of Memory that can be explored independently, however they are not independent systems. Questions about Memory usually arise in how memory is analyzed and where distinctions can be identified inside Memory in the brain. The idea of the two Memory systems STM and LTM comes from working with humans tested to recall strings of digits and this developed from a tradition of cognitive psychology. "Primary Memory [STM] refers to the information that forms the focus of current attention and that occupies the stream of thought". Because of this, information has to occupy your though process in order for you to use it. STM can be called Primary Memory, however it should be noted that Primary Memory does not value time. It is devoting focus on attention, processing and Memory Capacity. This leads into Working Memory which is a buffer where STM can be handled while it is being processed. Working Memory needs more than...

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...ive Science: Change Blindness. Université Paris 5, n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. .
Rensink, Ronald A. Change Blindness. Rep. University of British Columbia, n.d. Web. 15 April 2014. < http://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~rensink/publications/download/RR-MGY.pdf >
Squire, Larry R.. "Short-term and Long-term Memory Processes." Memory and brain. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987. 134-145. Print.
Squire, Larry R., and Eric R. Kandel. "Declarative Memory." Memory: from mind to molecules. New York: Scientific American Library :, 1999. 69-74. Print.
"EyewitnessTestimony." AS Psychology /. PBWorks, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
"What our eyes can't see, the brain fills in." Phys.org. Science X, 4 Apr. 2011. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. .

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