How memory works (and doesn’t)
From Harvard Thinking by Harvard University
December 3, 2025 · 29 min · Season 1 · Episode 20
About this episode
This episode explores the science of memory and how it affects our identity and learning, featuring insights from experts in the field.
We rely on our memories for so much. Memory is the foundation of our sense of self, ability to learn new information, and stay safe. But our memories are also highly suggestible, and we often misremember events or fabricate memories entirely. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with science researcher Dan Schacter, Alzheimer’s expert Margaret O’Connor, and neuroscientist Venki Murthy about the science of memory – and how we can remember better.
People in this episode
Host: Samantha Laine Perfas
Guests: Dan Schacter, Margaret O’Connor, Venki Murthy
Topics covered
- memory
- psychology
- neuroscience
- Alzheimer's
- self-identity
- learning
Keywords
- memory
- misremembering
- neuroscience
- Alzheimer's
- learning
- self-identity
- suggestibility
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Harvard University
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