False memories are hard to distinguish from lies

November 20, 2017

Mistaken memories can often be mistaken for lies; the line between a false belief that is sincerely held and an outright lie can get blurry at times, according to Professor Elizabeth Loftus, who was recently quoted in Vogue.

"[It’s] virtually impossible to tell true from false memory without independent corroboration," Loftus said.

And those false memories can play a major role in court cases.

"In one study, [mistaken memories] were responsible for over 70 percent of wrongful convictions [later] proven by DNA evidence," Loftus said. "Prosecutors are often dealing with witnesses who come to firmly believe what they are saying, even when mistaken."

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