User:LBird BASc/sandbox/ATK/Seminar6/Evidence/Evidence in Memory

Human memory is an aspect of the human brain that is often relied upon in any field. The memory, or data that humans hold in their brain is considered to serve as appropriate evidence in any discipline and in any given situation, from simple memory tests to legal testaments. However, what many people fail to consider is how easily memory can be manipulated, which can potentially cast significant doubts on how society as a whole operates. If it is proven that human memory is an unreliable source of information, then it makes it possible that traditionally trusted documents, such as legal testaments and statements, even if sworn under oath, could be unintentionally fabricated and hence deemed irrelevant and inaccurate.

A study that can provide grounds for this is one conducted by Professor Elizabeth Loftus at University of California, Irvine, where she proved the susceptibility of memories. This was done by recruiting a group of participants and collecting information about events from their pasts. Using this information, she presented to the participants four stories, one of them being completely made up. Remarkably, when being asked about the fabricated incident, at least a quarter of the participants claimed that they remembered it, even though it never happened. As such, human memory is vulnerable to manipulation, regardless of its nature.

This may change the nature of using memory as evidence in any discipline, since it may be susceptible to the situation, and regardless of its intention, memory can serve as  a valuable yet potentially manipulative tool.