Hey guys, I know what the reconstructive nature of memory is, but am just wondering if anyone can give me a good way of expressing it if a question asked for it,
A memory is never consolidated and transferred into LTM in it's exact form, it is instead encoded so that it can neurologically placed into LTM. As a result the contents of a memory is combined with other stored memories to form what is believed to be a more accurate or coherent memory. What other information it is stored with is based on an individuals personal beliefs, personalties, experiences etc. When the memory is retrieved, it may be retrieved with other pieces of information that didn't actually happen, but have now been incorporated into the memory.
In the same way, by retrieving a memory each time, new pieces of information can be added to a memory that did not actually happen (like what happens with leading questions)
Basically if it comes up in a question I think it's important to mention the fact that memories are encoded and not stored in their exact replica form, so they are combined with other pieces of information to make a more coherent and accurate memory, which can therefore distort the memory
AND
by retrieving the memory, it is subject to further reconstruction as new pieces of information may be added to the memory.