Seven myths of memory.


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Type
Article
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Authors
Clayton, Nicola S 
Wilkins, Clive 
Abstract

In this paper we highlight seven myths about memory, which centre around the fact that memories, as we experience them, are not only about the past, they are also prospective. Although episodic memory provides the template for future scenarios, it can be reassessed each time it is recalled, and in part is dependent on the sequence in which events unfold. We explore seven myths about memory, and the relationship between memory and experience. We refer to 'The Moustachio Quartet', a series of novels, which highlight themes and ideas relevant to our argument, and 'The Creatures in the Night', a picture book of paintings that explore the passage of time. We integrate evidence from science and the arts to explore the subjective nature of memory and mental time travel, arguing that our capacity to juggle multiple perspectives evolved for the act of prospection, as an aid to move time forward to the advantage of our species by imagining future scenarios.

Description
Keywords
Episodic memory, Future planning, Mental time travel, ‘The Captured Thought’, ‘The Moustachio Quartet’, Art, Humans, Literature, Memory, Science, Time
Journal Title
Behav Processes
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0376-6357
1872-8308
Volume Title
152
Publisher
Elsevier BV