Have you ever been certain that something happened, only to later realize it never did? These experiences are more common than you might think. Known as false memories, they are recollections that ...

A new cognitive psychology study reveals that our susceptibility to false memories depends heavily on how believable a suggested event is, and whether we are told it happened just once or repeatedly.

Although memories seem to be a solid, straightforward sum of who people are, strong evidence suggests that memories are much more quite complex, highly subject to change, and often simply unreliable.

Memory shapes us. Our beliefs, thoughts, fears, rationalities – all are shaped by our past experiences in the form of memory. Memories anchor us to the past and help us make sense of the present.

Ever wake up convinced something happened that actually didn’t? That vivid memory of a conversation with your friend, a movie you’re sure you watched, or an event that feels completely real but never ...

While having a good night's sleep might help you to remember things you're trying to remember, it can also help our brains make up entirely false memories. These false memories often arise when people ...

It’s easy enough to explain why we remember things: multiple regions of the brain — particularly the hippocampus — are devoted to the job. It’s easy to understand why we forget stuff too: there’s only ...

Experts don't know exactly what causes the Mandela effect, or false memories shared by a group. It may happen when your mind blends events and images or tries to fill in gaps with prior knowledge.

Think of your happiest memory. A wedding, your child’s birth, or maybe just a perfect night out with friends. Sit with it for a moment. Remember the details. What were you wearing? What did it smell ...