What Is a False Memory?

Most people have memory distortions, but emotional states, health, age, and environment can all affect how things are remembered.

False memories are memories that seem real but are not based in reality. Everyone has false memories at times because the human brain doesn't usually record events with the detailed accuracy of a device.

Instead, people are more likely to remember the stories or the “gist”(substance of information) of an event.

Most of the time, false memories aren't a cause for concern. And gist memory can help us make complex decisions and adapt to our surroundings. Also, a false memory in one situation doesn't mean false memories will occur elsewhere.

How accurately something is remembered can depend on several factors. These include your emotional or physical state when recalling or reliving a memory, whether someone else is affecting the memory, and circumstances like stress, mental health issues, or trauma. Trauma during an event can also affect whether a memory is retained right after the event occurs or if it is buried until a later time.

This article covers false memories, how they occur, and when they are a concern.

Examples of False Memories

False memories can happen for several reasons, including:

• The influence of others (such as authority figures)
• Age
• Mood
• Confusion about specific details

Studies show autobiographical false memories, or stories that we tell about ourselves that aren’t true, can range from harmless to serious. They might include:

• Getting lost in a public place as a child
• A notable occurrence at an event, such as a funny accident at a party
• Being attacked by an animal or person
• False confessions
  

Causes

There are many potential causes of false memories, which are outlined below.

Sleep Deprivation

Losing sleep or not having sleep at all could increase false memories. Sleep deprivation can also raise the chance of memory distortions of facts that can be verified. 

High Suggestibility

High suggestibility is when a person is more vulnerable to believing false memories. It can happen for several reasons, including:

• Stress
• Trauma
• Age
• Dreaming
• Being under the influence of alcohol and drugs
• Lack of sleep
• Protecting someone else, such as during an investigation
• Complying with authorities
• Wanting fame or validation

Emotional State

Depression, stress, and anxiety can all increase the likelihood of false memories.

Research has also found if someone is in a positive mood, they might be more likely to believe false memories, whereas a negative mood could make someone more alert to threats and less likely to believe false memories.

Risk Factors

There are many risk factors for false memory, which are outlined below.

Traumatic Events and Repressed Memories

Trauma can increase memory distortions and can possibly suppress memories altogether. Some of these memories can seem to emerge at a later time.

In a 2021 study, researchers took pictures of the brains of trauma victims using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They found that participants had brain activity that showed signs of dissociation. Dissociation is when a person feels separated from events in their life and does not integrate them into their conscious awareness or identity. Some specialists suggested that if dissociation can be viewed in MRI scans, then the possibility that people do have repressed memories exists.

Natural Aging

We might be more likely to have false memories as we age. This is because new information and new memories can interfere with existing memories. This is a process called interference, and while it might appear to be a memory deficit, it's part of gathering more memories.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is marked by intrusive and aggressive anxious thoughts that are also repetitive. Compulsive rituals to reduce anxiety or fear are also a part of the disorder. People with OCD are more likely to be vulnerable to false memories because of their thoughts' overwhelming nature. These false memories might also come from a fear of threats or relying on feelings that memories represent instead of the truth of the memories themselves.

Summary

False memories are memories of events that don't match reality. They can range from harmless childhood memories, like memories of a day at the park, to traumatic events or even false confessions of crime. Most people have some memory distortions, but trauma, pressure from others, stress, and mental health issues can increase their likelihood. Memories can also be repressed and appear later, and such memories can be false or true. As for the false memories of older people, what looks like a memory deficit might be new memories and information interfering with older memories.

A Word From Verywell 

False memories happen to most people, and they are usually nothing to worry about. Remembering that these false memories can exist and using records to verify events is an excellent way to clear up confusion about your memories.

For some people, having many false or sudden memories that seem false can be worrying or even traumatic. If you feel concerned about your memories, consider speaking to a therapist or someone you trust who can help you piece together the memory and manage any difficult emotions or circumstances they may cause.

If you're aging and worried about losing older memories, keeping a journal and maintaining records can help you hold onto memories.