Memory Hackers

Whether it is sharp, fuzzy, poignant or thrilling, memory is the glue that binds our mental lives, but how does it work? Using cutting-edge research, neuroscientists are exploring the precise molecular mechanisms of memory. By studying individuals ranging from an 11-year-old whiz-kid who remembers every detail of his life, to a man who had his spider phobias vanquished, to a woman who even had memories implanted, scientists have uncovered a provocative idea. For much of human history, memory has been seen as a 'tape recorder' that faithfully registers information and replays it intact. Now, researchers are discovering that memory is far more malleable, always being written and rewritten, not just by us but by others.