The Memory Illusion Quotes

“So, in general how good are we at predicting how long things will take? In a review of research on prospective memory published in 2010,15 Roger Buehler from Wilfrid Laurier University and his colleagues in Canada looked at research asking individuals to estimate how long particular activities would take them. They found that people were generally optimistic in their estimates, tending to discount past failures to complete things on time, and generally underestimating how long tasks actually took to complete. In other words, we seem to believe that our future selves are going to be superheroes at doing things quickly – new you excels at doing things quickly, even if old you was slow. New you is efficient, old you was lazy.”
― Julia Shaw, The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory

“Our past is a fictional representation, and the only thing we can be even somewhat sure of is what is happening now. It encourages us to live in the moment and not to place too much importance on our past. It forces us to accept that the best time of our lives, and our memory, is right now. And”
― Julia Shaw, The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory

“Using optogenetics to steer how our hippocampus makes memories brings to mind the idea of Matrix- or Total Recall-type science fiction scenarios, where entire complex memories are directly implanted into people’s brains using technology. We’re not quite there yet but science is making quick strides regarding the technology we can use in the brain. Optogenetics really only moved from science fiction to science fact in 2010.”
― Julia Shaw, The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory

“Don’t trust your memory. If someone asks you if you can remember something, say no. Write it down.’ Identity”
― Julia Shaw, The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory