mental files

Mental files refer to the way our brains organize and store knowledge about the world. Imagine each piece of information—like facts about animals, historical events, or people—as being neatly filed away in a mental filing cabinet. When we need to recall information, we access these “files.” This system helps us efficiently retrieve relevant knowledge, make connections, and reason about new situations. However, just like a messy cabinet, our mental files can sometimes be disorganized or incomplete, leading to misunderstandings or gaps in knowledge.