Recent research reveals that people often rely on subjective memories—how vivid they feel—more than on the actual accuracy of those memories when making decisions. This study distinguishes between objective and subjective memory processes, highlighting their independent functions in the brain and their implications for how we evaluate memories in real-life situations.

Katika Kifungu hiki

  • What tension exists between subjective and objective memory?
  • How do subjective and objective memories function in the brain?
  • What methods were used to study memory accuracy and feelings?
  • How can these findings be applied to everyday decision making?
  • What risks or limitations are associated with relying on memory feelings?

Watu hutegemea maamuzi yao kwa kumbukumbu ya mada-jinsi wanavyohisi juu ya kumbukumbu-zaidi ya usahihi wake, watafiti wanaripoti.

Tunapokumbuka kumbukumbu, tunapata maelezo maalum juu yake: wapi, lini, na nani. Lakini mara nyingi pia tunapata hisia wazi ya kukumbuka tukio hilo, wakati mwingine karibu kuijaribu tena. Watafiti wa kumbukumbu huita michakato hii kumbukumbu ya malengo na ya kibinafsi, mtawaliwa.

Utafiti mpya unaonyesha kuwa kumbukumbu ya malengo na ya kibinafsi inaweza kufanya kazi kwa kujitegemea na kuhusisha sehemu tofauti za ubongo.

"Utafiti huo unatofautisha kati ya jinsi tunakumbuka vizuri na jinsi tunavyofikiria tunakumbuka, na inaonyesha hiyo kufanya maamuzi inategemea hasa tathmini ya kibinafsi ya ushahidi wa kumbukumbu, "anasema mwandishi mwenza Simona Ghetti, profesa katika idara ya saikolojia na Kituo cha Akili na Ubongo katika Chuo Kikuu cha California, Davis.


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Watafiti walijaribu kumbukumbu ya malengo na ya kibinafsi. Baada ya kuwaonyesha wajitolea mfululizo wa picha za vitu vya kawaida, watafiti waliwaonyesha jozi za picha na kuwauliza watambue ni yupi kati ya hao wawili waliowaona hapo awali.

Watafiti waliwauliza wajitolea kupima kumbukumbu kama "kukumbukwa," ikiwa waliiona kama wazi na ya kina, au kama "wanaojulikana" ikiwa wanahisi kuwa kumbukumbu hiyo haina undani. Katika baadhi ya majaribio, jozi za picha zilijumuisha picha inayolengwa na picha inayofanana ya kitu kimoja. Kwa wengine, lengo lilionyeshwa na picha isiyohusiana kutoka kwa seti ile ile ya asili. Kwa mfano, kiti kinaweza kuonyeshwa na kiti kingine kilichoonyeshwa kutoka pembe tofauti, au na tufaha.

Ubunifu huu wa majaribio uliruhusu watafiti kupata alama ya kumbukumbu na jinsi wajitolea walivyokumbuka hapo awali wakiona picha, na kumbukumbu ya kibinafsi kwa jinsi walivyokadiria kumbukumbu zao kama kukumbukwa wazi au kujulikana tu. Mwishowe, washiriki waliulizwa kuchagua picha gani za kuweka au kutupilia mbali, wakiwapa kwenye sanduku la hazina au pipa la takataka.

Timu pia ilitumia MRI inayofanya kazi kupima shughuli za ubongo wakati wa kazi hii.

Matokeo yalionyesha viwango vya juu vya kumbukumbu ya lengo wakati washiriki walipimwa na jozi za picha zinazofanana. Lakini, watu walikuwa na uwezekano mkubwa wa kudai kwamba walikumbuka wazi wakati wa kutazama jozi za picha tofauti.

Washiriki walikuwa na uwezekano mkubwa wa kuweka msingi wao uamuzi juu ya kuweka au kutupa picha juu ya jinsi walivyohisi juu ya kumbukumbu badala ya usahihi wa malengo.

Ili kutoa mfano wa ulimwengu halisi, mtu anaweza kuwa na kumbukumbu wazi ya kwenda kwenye hafla na marafiki. Baadhi ya maelezo halisi ya kumbukumbu hiyo yanaweza kuwa mbali, lakini wanaweza kuhisi ni kumbukumbu wazi, kwa hivyo wanaweza kuamua kutoka na watu hao hao tena (baada ya janga hilo).

Kwa upande mwingine, ikiwa mtu amejifunza kutumia zana kama hizo za nguvu akifanya kazi isiyo ya kawaida karibu na nyumba, kumbukumbu zao juu ya vitu hivyo zinaweza kuwa maalum.

"Lakini bado unaweza kuhisi kuwa haukumbuki wazi kwa sababu unaweza kuuliza ikiwa unakumbuka utaratibu sahihi juu ya chombo sahihi. Kwa hivyo, unaweza kuishia kuomba msaada badala ya kutegemea kumbukumbu yako, ”Ghetti anasema.

Takwimu za fMRI zilionyesha kuwa kumbukumbu ya malengo na ya kibinafsi iliajiri maeneo tofauti ya kortical katika mkoa wa parietal na upendeleo. Mikoa iliyohusika katika uzoefu wa kibinafsi pia ilihusika katika kufanya uamuzi, ikiimarisha uhusiano kati ya michakato miwili.

"Kwa kuelewa jinsi akili zetu zinavyoweka kumbukumbu dhahiri za kumbukumbu na maamuzi ya kumbukumbu, tunasogeza hatua karibu kuelewa jinsi tunavyojifunza kutathmini ushahidi wa kumbukumbu ili kufanya maamuzi mazuri siku za usoni," anasema mtafiti wa postdoctoral Yana Fandakova, ambaye sasa ni mchunguzi katika Taasisi ya Max Planck ya Maendeleo ya Binadamu huko Berlin.

kuhusu Waandishi

Kazi inaonekana katika jarida eLife. James S. McDonnell Foundation iliunga mkono kazi hiyo.

Utafiti wa awali

Masomo zaidi

  1. The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers

    This book examines why human memory is inherently imperfect and how subjective feelings, biases, and reconstruction shape what we believe we remember. It aligns closely with the article’s theme by explaining how emotional and cognitive factors influence decision-making more than objective accuracy. Readers gain insight into why vivid memories can feel reliable even when details are distorted.

    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618040196/innerselfcom

  2. Memory: From Mind to Molecules

    Written by leading neuroscientists, this book explores how memory functions from brain systems down to molecular processes. It helps explain the neurological basis behind objective versus subjective memory by linking cognitive experience to underlying brain mechanisms. The scientific perspective complements research showing how different brain regions contribute to memory evaluation and decision-making.

    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805073450/innerselfcom

  3. Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

    This accessible exploration of memory combines personal narrative with cognitive science to show how perception, attention, and subjective experience shape recall. By highlighting how memory is constructed rather than recorded, the book reinforces the article’s focus on why people trust feelings of remembering when making choices. It offers practical insight into how memory confidence differs from memory accuracy.

    Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/159420229X/innerselfcom

Muhtasari wa Makala

This research emphasizes the importance of subjective memory in decision-making processes, suggesting that feelings associated with memories can overshadow their factual accuracy. Caution is advised when relying solely on vivid memories for important decisions.

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