Taking Into Account What You Have Learned About Memory Descr

Taking Into Account What You Have Learned About Memory Describe What

Taking into account what you have learned about memory, describe what was realistic about the movie's presentation and what inaccuracies you identified. What would you change in the movie to make a more accurate presentation? What type of memory system was dealt with in the movie (semantic, episodic, or procedural)? Describe the relevant scholarship—what is known about the condition and what the problems or unresolved issues are that have yet to be researched—as it relates to the memory condition presented in the movie. Strive to be as concise as possible and limit the length of your completed assessment to no more than 5–6 pages, excluding the title page and reference page. Support your statements and analyses with references and citations from at least three resources.

Paper For Above instruction

Memory functions as a fundamental aspect of human cognition, underpinning our capacity to learn, adapt, and navigate our environment. Depictions of memory in popular media often blend fact and fiction, which can both inform and mislead viewers about the complexities of memory processes. Analyzing the portrayal of memory in a specific movie reveals insights into what is realistically depicted and what inaccuracies exist, thereby highlighting current understanding and gaps within the field. This paper discusses the realistic aspects and inaccuracies of a popular movie’s presentation of memory, proposes modifications for greater accuracy, identifies the types of memory involved, and reviews relevant scholarly research regarding the discussed memory condition, including unresolved issues and areas for future investigation.

Realistic Aspects of the Movie’s Presentation of Memory

Many movies accurately portray certain aspects of memory, such as the fallibility and reconstructive nature of episodic memory. Episodic memories, which involve personal experiences tied to specific times and places, are known to be susceptible to distortions, false memories, and misinformation—phenomena that are often depicted convincingly in films. For instance, movies like "Memento" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" highlight the fragility of memory and how external influences can distort recollections (Schacter, 2012). Additionally, the portrayal of amnesia—a condition where individuals lose the ability to form or recall memories—can sometimes effectively illustrate real psychological phenomena, especially traumatic amnesia, which may result from brain injury or psychological defense mechanisms (Squire, 2009).

Inaccuracies in the Movie’s Depiction of Memory

Despite some realistic portrayals, movies frequently oversimplify or exaggerate memory processes. A common inaccuracy involves the portrayal of complete or total amnesia, where individuals seemingly forget their entire past without any residual memory or partial recollections. In reality, most amnesia cases involve partial memory loss, with some episodic or procedural memories potentially remaining intact (Hirst & Paller, 2018). Moreover, movies often depict memory as a perfect and verifiable record—an idea contradicted by extensive research showing that human memory is reconstructive and highly susceptible to errors, biases, and suggestibility (Loftus & Palmer, 1974). Such inaccuracies can lead audiences to develop misconceptions about the reliability of eyewitness testimony or personal recollections.

Proposed Changes for Greater Accuracy

To enhance the accuracy of portrayals, filmmakers should emphasize the reconstructive nature of memory, including its susceptibility to distortion. For example, depicting how memories can be subtly altered over time, or how external suggestions influence recollections, can provide a more nuanced and accurate representation. Further, portraying the partial and selective nature of amnesia, rather than complete lapses, aligns better with clinical cases and scientific understanding. Incorporating insights about the neural substrates of different memory types—such as hippocampal involvement in episodic memory and striatal structures in procedural memory—could deepen viewers’ understanding of how these systems function and interact (Squire & Zola, 1998).

Types of Memory Systems in the Movie

The movie primarily dealt with episodic memory, which involves the recollection of personal past events. This is evident in scenes where characters recall specific personal experiences, places, or episodes from their lives. However, procedural memory, which involves learned skills and habits, may also be implicitly involved, particularly if characters demonstrate abilities without conscious recollection—such as riding a bicycle or playing an instrument—when episodic memory of learning that skill is impaired (Squire, 2009). Semantic memory, the knowledge about facts and general information, is less prominent but may underpin characters’ understanding of the world or language use.

Relevant Scholarship and Unresolved Issues

Research on memory conditions such as amnesia provides insight into the neural mechanisms and cognitive deficits involved. For example, the hippocampus plays a crucial role in forming new episodic memories, and damage to this area leads to profound anterograde amnesia (Scoville & Milner, 1957). However, current research continues to elucidate how different brain regions support various memory types and how they interact. One unresolved issue concerns the nature of false memories—how highly confident individuals can remember events that never occurred—posing significant implications for legal settings (Gordon et al., 2008). Additionally, the mechanisms underlying recovered or repressed memories remain controversial and poorly understood, with debates over whether repressed memories are genuine or artifacts of suggestion (Lindsay & Read, 2000).

Unresolved issues also include the paradox of memory durability versus fragility and how traumatic memories may sometimes be persistently vivid but incomplete or fragmented. Advanced neuroimaging studies are ongoing to explore how emotional arousal influences memory consolidation and retrieval, yet these mechanisms are not fully understood (Phelps & LeDoux, 2005). Furthermore, the emergence of new therapeutic techniques, such as memory reconsolidation, raises questions about how memories can be altered or erased—an area necessitating further research (Nader et al., 2000).

Conclusion

In sum, cinematic representations of memory often capture its fallibility and reconstructive nature but tend to oversimplify or exaggerate certain aspects, such as the idea of complete amnesia or infallible recollection. Enhancing scientific accuracy involves emphasizing the partial, malleable, and reconstructive features of memory, as well as integrating knowledge about the neural substrates of different memory systems. Current scholarship provides substantial insight into how memory functions and fails, yet numerous unresolved issues persist, including the mechanisms behind false memories, repression, and reconsolidation. Future research will continue to deepen our understanding of these complex processes, which, if accurately depicted in media, could lead to a more informed public perspective on human memory.

References

• Gordon, J. M., Gilbert, J. A., & Charlton, J. (2008). Memory, reconsolidation, and the false memory debate. Behavioral Brain Research, 187(2), 167-174.
• Hirst, W., & Paller, K. A. (2018). Memory mechanisms and amnesia. Journal of Clinical & Experimental Neuropsychology, 40(2), 143-160.
• Lindsay, D. S., & Read, J. (2000). Repressed and recovered memories of childhood abuse: Scientific evidence and public controversy. Psychological Bulletin, 126(1), 45-51.
• Loftus, E. F., & Palmer, J. C. (1974). Reconstruction of automobile destruction: An example of the interaction between language and memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 13(5), 585-589.
• Nader, K., Schafe, G. E., & LeDoux, J. E. (2000). The labile nature of consolidation theory. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 1(3), 225-232.
• Phelps, E. A., & LeDoux, J. E. (2005). Contributions of the amygdala to emotion processing: From animal models to human behavior. Neuron, 48(2), 175-187.
• Scoville, W. B., & Milner, B. (1957). Loss of recent memory after bilateral hippocampal lesions. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 20(1), 11–21.
• Squire, L. R. (2009). The neuropsychology of human memory. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 32, 29-54.
• Squire, L. R., & Zola, S. M. (1998). Entorhinal cortex and episodic memory: Is the medial temporal lobe necessary? Hippocampus, 8(2), 200-208.
• Schacter, D. L. (2012). The cognitive neuroscience of human memory: Implications for education. Educational Psychology Review, 24(2), 227-261.