Accuracy of memory in cognitive processes

Accuracy of Memory

Memory is a cognitive phenomenon, and describing one's ability to recall events and procedures throughout the lifespan is just as difficult to conceptualize. One can remember to feed the dog every morning, how to play chess, song lyrics, and their favorite childhood memory. In contrast, one can not always recall every meal they had for the last month, the date of their next dentist appointment, or the name of the book they have been meaning to read. Details and elements perceived by an individual are either forgotten or harnessed into memory. Some aspects are particularly poignant to the individual and others are not. Herein lays the concern: If memories are subjective, or even incomplete, how can they be regarded as accurate, unbiased accounts of events?

Researchers and professionals question the confines of memory, as it is subjective to each person -- an individual's perceptions and emotions marks differences in their memory, making each memory unique. In addition to the uniqueness of memory, researchers study factors that influence the accuracy of one's memory. Understanding what affects one's memory, notably long-term memory, is not only of significance to cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists, but also to law enforcement and legal professionals for the validation of eyewitness testimony. By the time a legal case goes to trial, typically several years have past, and law professionals account for four categories: attributes of the witness, attributes of the perpetrator, attributes of the events observed, and attributes of law enforcement procedures used to obtain evidence from the witness. To evaluate the accuracy of an individual's memory, one must also assess age, nutrition, health, emotional status, and the context of their interaction when the moment in question occurred. Establishing memory as sufficient evidence is an unreliable process, as memories are typically regarded as accurate when complimented only by physical evidence. Due to the subjective nature of memory, its accuracy must be viewed within context.

The psychological and physiological construct of memory defines an individual's ability to store, retain and recall information and experiences. Memory encompasses a host of cognitive capacities that intertwine histories of past experiences with current actions. Psychologist, neuroscientists, and philosophers search to understand the complexity of pathways linking actions of remembering, perceiving, and imagining. The full concept of memory is divided into its various functions to distinguish between different types of memory. Two key distinctions are made between short-term and long-term memory processes. Short-term memory (STM) refers to the period of several seconds after an item is perceived, and an individual can immediately comprehend and repeat the intended information without rehearsal or previous knowledge. An individual's STM generally has limited space and duration, and information is only retained for a short period of time. Long-term memory (LTM) can store large quantities of information, potentially for an unlimited amount of time. Comprehending factors that influence LTM is critical to understanding the accuracy of memory.

One of the most discussed circumstances surrounding the accuracy of memory is during eyewitness testimony. When considering the memory of a witness, law professionals gauge four general categories. The first category to assess the accuracy of an individual's memory includes studying the attributes of the witness themselves. This involves understanding the physical make-up and well being of the individual. For example, age is considered as it is a natural process contributing to decreased memory function, and elderly people are more likely to make false identifications. Young children make the most false identifications, and can be greatly influenced by misinformation. Proper diet and nutrition promotes brain health, function, and ultimately memory. Notably, lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption, drug use, and smoking also inhibit memory accuracy. Alcohol use, however, tends to have mixed results when assessing one's memory, as the amount of alcohol intake must be considered. High alcohol consumption corresponds with low accuracy. There is no empirical evidence supporting physical characteristics such as race, ethnicity, and gender as having impact on memory accuracy. These factors, however, can contribute to bias opinion. Legal professionals also consider occupation in relation to memory accuracy. For example, law enforcement officers tend to be better witnesses as they practice paying attention to detail, and are required to recall details on a regular basis. This overall category pertaining to the attributes of the witness have an effect on encoding and storing information, which are the first two stages of information processing. When these factors influence information processing, any information filtered to long-term memory can be significantly distorted.

The second category considered when establishing the accuracy of an eyewitness's memory is the attributes of the perpetrator. When questioning an eyewitness, legal professionals must inquire if the perpetrator was wearing a disguise, has a distinctive face, or if they were an acquaintance, friend, or family member. Each of these scenarios contributes to the accuracy of the individual's memory. The third general category considers the attributes of the events observed. This includes assessing the amount of time an eyewitness has to view and observe the event. The less time the individual has, the less time they have to encode the information, and the less likely the information will be deciphered into LTM. Other influences include the physical distance the individual is from the event, or any other obstruction that reduces one's ability to encode information into memory, such as lighting, extreme noise, etc. Witnesses under high levels of stress, fear, or are in the presence of a weapon during the event are all at risk of decreased memory accuracy. Both cognitive and neural heightened responses during intense stress reduce coding of information to LTM.

The fourth general category influencing memory considers the attributes of law enforcement procedures used to obtain evidence from the witness. Interview techniques, such as interruptions and closed-ended questions, influence verbal descriptions given about the events. Information introduced by law enforcement, investigators, media, other witnesses, etc. also influence the accuracy of memory as these details may be incorporated into the witness's mind. At this point, it can be difficult for the witness to know the genesis of the memory, and leads to loss of their own perception.