That finding reflects what psychologists have long understood about memory.
Memory does not function like a video recording stored in the brain. Every time someone recalls an event, they reconstruct it, blending together fragments of sensory details, emotions, later experiences, and information learned afterward. Over time, those reconstructions can become so familiar that distinguishing lived experience from family storytelling becomes increasingly difficult.
The Childhood Moments Americans Are Most Likely to Remember
Although many details disappear, certain types of experiences seem to leave a lasting impression
