memory schema

A memory schema is a mental framework or template that helps your brain organize and interpret information based on past experiences. It acts like a mental shortcut, allowing you to quickly make sense of new situations by relating them to familiar patterns, expectations, or categories. For example, your schema for a restaurant includes expecting a menu, a waiter, and ordering food. Schemas help you process information efficiently but can also lead to biases or stereotypes if they oversimplify or distort reality. They develop over time and adapt as you encounter new experiences.