Why does your brain mix up memories? A new study examines how memories are misplaced in your brain’s filing cabinets

Rather than simply forgetting a memory, your brain has likely misplaced it. Aging can make memory confusion worse.

By: Ian McDonough, Binghamton University, State University of New York, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 14, 2026

Words: 921

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Ian McDonough, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Old age and forgetfulness seem to go hand in hand. But my colleagues and I found that memories actually becomes less precise, not entirely forgotten. Our study, published in the journal Cerebral Cortex, shows how the brain blends related experiences as you age rather than replaying the exact one you need.

Memory is a complicated process. Even when everything’s working as it should, the way …

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