Failure In Recognition And Memory Recall

Memories in the brain are at times recycled from episodic to semantic memories. This transfer makes a memory general knowledge to the individual. That creates more room for new memories. The problem with this system is that a new memory is encoded into an old memory. Both memories may have many similarities, but can have different core context. For example, an individual studies months on a specific question that asks the individual to name four characteristics to a mental disorder, after repeated encoding, that memory moves from an episodic memory to a semantic memory. Then on another question that individual recognizes a only the key phrase “four characteristics”, which the content is related to one of a psychotic break, the individual …show more content…
The failure begins with the encoding process within the memory. Any interference or distraction during the encoding process leads to errors within the recall. Both failures in recognition and memory recall explain the concept of déjà vu. An individual does not instantly recall a moment of déjà vu. Déjà vu suddenly hits the individual’s recognition without notice or a predisposed circumstance. That element is explained through recognition and inferences. The familiarity of a place or situation, causes an inference with the recognition of the area. Once the inference is made in the recognition, encoding for that situation has begun. When the individual begins to reaffirm the prior information, the memory realizes that the information surrounding the place or situation was previously encoded but something is different. The brain tries to recall the information, but has trouble because the previous encoding is now being rewritten with a new encoding of the same material. This results in the familiarity of the place or situation and the inability to understand the origin or original source of where that place or situation was first established. “Manipulations of perceptual fluency during retrieval can produce memory illusions—for example, the belief that a more easily perceived test item is likely to be an old item, a …show more content…
Although it is just a theory, the possibility of failures in the memory are real. Understanding that there is failure in the recognition and encoding process of an individual, will lead to better testing of individuals who report frequent occurrences of déjà vu. It will lead to better cognitive applications, medicines, and treatments toward memory and the encoding process. More importantly, understanding that déjà vu is an occurrence caused by failure in the recognition and encoding process of the memory will help to explain future occurrences and scientifically solve the mystery surrounding