Bridging the Gap Between Believing and Memory Functions

Europe s Journal of Psychology

article

Rüdiger J. Seitz¹  Hans-Ferdinand Angel²  Raymond F. Paloutzian³ 

[1] Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf;Karl Franzens University Graz;Westmont College

关键词: believing;    brain;    meaning;    neural processes;    memory;    credition;    beliefs;   

DOI  :  10.5964/ejop.7461

来源: German Medical Science

【 摘 要 】

Believing has recently been recognized as a fundamental brain function linking a person’s experience with his or her attitude, actions and predictions. In general, believing results from the integration of ambient information with emotions and can be reinforced or modulated in a probabilistic fashion by new experiences. Although these processes occur in the subliminal realm, humans can become aware of what they believe and express it verbally. We explain how believing is interwoven with memory functions in a multifaceted fashion. Linking the typically rapid and adequate reactions of a subject to what he/she believes is enabled by working memory. Perceptions are stored in episodic memory as beneficial or aversive events, while the corresponding verbal descriptions of what somebody believes are stored in semantic memory. After recall from memory of what someone believes, personally relevant information can be communicated to other people. Thus, memory is essential for maintaining what people believe.

【 授权许可】

Unknown