Multiple Trace Theory

Multiple Trace Theory suggests that every time we remember an event, our brain creates multiple memory traces across different parts of the hippocampus and surrounding areas. Each recall strengthens and adds new traces, making the memory more durable and detailed over time. Unlike the idea that memories fade into a single, stable record, this theory proposes that memories remain flexible, with each retrieval potentially updating or reconstructing them, especially for detailed, episodic experiences. This ongoing process helps explain why some memories become more vivid or altered when remembered repeatedly.