UA Ruhr Science Symposium: On Memory

How do we memorize past events? Do we remember an important past event (for us) as it actually (or at partially) was or how it best fits into our expectations, our self-image?

In the Symposium on May 21, 2024 we delved into the multifaceted nature of autobiographical memory and examined the various ways in which we recall and interpret our past experiences. Key topics included new insights from neuroscience and psychology in understanding memory mechanisms; this opened the floor for an interdisciplinary discussion of central questions, e.g. to which degree remain episodic memories photographic and realistic and to which degree are they a product of subjective reconstructions? How intensely can memories be shaped by our self-image and our worldview? Is autobiographical memory even mainly developed to support our self-image? What does follow from such a constructivist view of memory for testimonial memories in court, for our personal beliefs which are anchored on memories of past events? To which degree can we seriously rely on our episodic memories?