false memory effect

The false memory effect occurs when a person recalls an event or detail differently from how it actually happened, or even remembers something that never occurred. This happens because our memories are reconstructive rather than perfect recordings; they can be influenced by suggestions, beliefs, or later information. As a result, our brains may create convincing but inaccurate memories, leading us to remember things incorrectly. This phenomenon highlights that human memory is fallible and malleable, and that our recollections can be shaped by the interplay of memories, external influences, and cognitive biases.