Memory Loss and Distortion: Types, Causes, and Solutions
Understanding Memory Loss and Distortion
The Complex Nature of Memory Impairment
Memory impairment can stem from various sources. Both mental and physical health conditions significantly contribute to memory loss. Conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related disorders prominently feature memory impairment as a primary symptom. Research has established connections between post-traumatic stress disorder and memory difficulties. Mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder have also been associated with memory challenges.
Physical causes of memory impairment include traumatic brain injury, which can disrupt normal functioning in specific brain regions. For example, damage to the hippocampus—a crucial structure for learning and memory processing—can interfere with long-term memory storage and retrieval. Similarly, damage to the amygdala, which plays a vital role in storing, retrieving, and processing emotional memories, can affect emotional memory, emotional responses, and decision-making abilities. Research suggests brain injuries may also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Memory loss can also result from brain tumors, infections, or insufficient blood or oxygen supply to the brain. If you’re experiencing memory issues, consulting with a healthcare professional is essential for proper evaluation and to determine whether additional testing or treatment might be necessary.
Beyond physical and mental health conditions, our memories are subject to various cognitive distortions. We may forget certain events entirely, remember them differently than they occurred, or incorrectly attribute memories to the wrong sources.
Common Types of Memory Impairment and Distortion
The complexity of memory processes and the various factors that can cause cognitive impairment mean that memory deficits and changes can manifest in several distinct ways:
Transience
Psychologist Daniel Schacter identified seven primary types of memory distortions, categorized as either errors of omission or commission. Transience, an error of omission involving forgetting, refers to the natural loss of memory over time. For instance, you might have once memorized all U.S. presidents but now recall only half of them. This form of memory impairment can be accelerated by aging or brain damage.
Memory Rewriting
Our brains frequently modify stored memories with new information. You might, for example, remember a friend being in your elementary school class despite not meeting them until high school. Research suggests that each time we recall a memory, our brain essentially rewrites it. Interestingly, therapeutic approaches leverage this process to help people overcome traumatic memories.
Dissociative Amnesia
This refers specifically to the loss of autobiographical memory—memories related to oneself. While other aspects of memory may remain intact, a person might experience a gap corresponding to a specific time period. Dissociative amnesia can result from traumatic experiences or damage to the limbic system.
Misattribution
This memory error occurs when you attribute a memory to the wrong source or remember it differently from how the event actually happened. For example, you might remember riding a horse at a birthday party when it actually occurred during a vacation that same year. This type of memory gap can result from experiencing intense emotions during the event or from hearing different versions of an occurrence from others and blending them with your own recollections.
Blocking
Have you ever tried to recall something you know but can’t seem to access? This phenomenon is known as blocking—the failure to retrieve stored information. It can occur when our ability to link memories—a fundamental mechanism for storing and recalling information—weakens, hindering recollection. Memory blocking is common at any age but tends to increase with age.
Absent-mindedness
Forgetting concert tickets at home or overlooking a school project deadline are examples of absent-mindedness—failures to store or retrieve memories. Absent-mindedness commonly occurs when we’re focusing on other matters, experiencing stress or fatigue, or simply not paying attention.
False Memories
Are your memories as accurate as you believe? According to false memory theory, also called confabulation, your memories may not be accurate or even genuine. Several factors can contribute to this form of memory distortion. Sometimes, others can implant what seems like a memory through suggestion. False memories can also result from certain types of brain damage and have been linked to PTSD and depression.
Memory Bias
Our current beliefs can influence our ability to accurately remember past events. When recalling memories, we sometimes distort them based on our current knowledge and feelings. For example, if you’re feeling sad, you might remember a past situation more negatively than it actually was.
Imagination Inflation
This memory distortion occurs when someone becomes more likely to remember an event after imagining it, even if it never happened. In one study, researchers measured participants’ beliefs about whether certain childhood events had occurred. After having participants visualize some of these events, researchers found their conviction that these events had actually happened strengthened significantly.
Time-slice Errors
Time-slice errors happen when a person recalls a real event but not the correct one for the time period in question. For instance, if a classmate asks what your professor covered on a particular day, and you describe their lecture from a different day, you’ve committed a time-slice error.
Improving Memory Function
Numerous evidence-based methods exist for enhancing different types of memory. These range from brain exercises that improve working memory to music therapy that can enhance autobiographical memory. As a general approach, many experts recommend lifestyle changes to improve overall memory function, including:
- Limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption
- Regular physical exercise
- Following a diet that promotes cognitive health
Activities that keep your brain engaged can also help boost memory. Consider learning a new skill, such as woodworking, or studying a foreign language. Games like crossword puzzles, sudoku, and chess are all believed to improve memory as well.
How Telehealth Therapy Can Help
If you struggle with cognitive function due to memory gaps, inaccurate memories, or similar concerns, seeking guidance and support from a licensed clinical social worker through telehealth services can be beneficial. A ReachLink therapist can help you address the emotional challenges that often accompany memory loss, develop coping strategies for symptoms of related mental health issues, and connect you with resources for improving your memory.
Research indicates that telehealth therapy can promote memory improvement after impairment. In one study of 46 individuals who experienced memory loss following a stroke, researchers found that telehealth therapy led to improvements in memory function that were sustained for six months after treatment. These results contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting the effectiveness of telehealth therapy for addressing various mental and cognitive health concerns.
ReachLink’s telehealth platform offers a convenient and flexible approach to mental health care for those experiencing memory difficulties. You can easily schedule appointments and receive session reminders, which can be particularly helpful if you’re struggling with memory issues. Your licensed clinical social worker can also provide you with useful resources, such as at-home exercises designed to help improve your memory between sessions.
Takeaway
Memory involves complex brain processes and is susceptible to various errors, including misattribution, absent-mindedness, and bias. Since memories are likely precious to you, understanding how they may be affected and how you can preserve them is important. If you’ve experienced one of the forms of memory impairment described above or a similar concern, consider connecting with a licensed clinical social worker through ReachLink’s telehealth platform. With appropriate support, you can work toward preserving your memories and maintaining your cognitive and mental health.
