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Constructive episodic simulation, flexible recombination, and memory errors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2018

Daniel L. Schacter
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138. dls@wjh.harvard.edualexiscarpenter@g.harvard.edualeea_devitt@fas.harvard.eduhttp://scholar.harvard.edu/schacterlab/home
Alexis C. Carpenter
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138. dls@wjh.harvard.edualexiscarpenter@g.harvard.edualeea_devitt@fas.harvard.eduhttp://scholar.harvard.edu/schacterlab/home
Aleea Devitt
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138. dls@wjh.harvard.edualexiscarpenter@g.harvard.edualeea_devitt@fas.harvard.eduhttp://scholar.harvard.edu/schacterlab/home
Reece P. Roberts
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. r.roberts@auckland.ac.nzd.addis@auckland.ac.nzhttp://www.memorylab.org
Donna Rose Addis
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. r.roberts@auckland.ac.nzd.addis@auckland.ac.nzhttp://www.memorylab.org

Abstract

According to Mahr & Csibra (M&C), the view that the constructive nature of episodic memory is related to its role in simulating future events has difficulty explaining why memory is often accurate. We hold this view, but disagree with their conclusion. Here we consider ideas and evidence regarding flexible recombination processes in episodic retrieval that accommodate both accuracy and distortion.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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