Data · dataset · 2026
The future of memory? Towards an enhanced simulation theory of memory
Listed in ZivaHub and Deakin Research Online and DMU Figshare — shown once because both records carry DOI 10.17034/32805539.v1
Remembering is something we routinely do, but how best to explain it?
Description
I demonstrate that by focusing on memory working at an expert level, by studying the techniques of memory athletes who use particular mnemonic strategies to memorise extraordinary amounts of information, our knowledge of episodic memory is greatly enhanced. This approach of studying memory at its best, has been lacking in the literature.
The two prominent theories that battle with each other to fill the explanatory gap of episodic memory are: the causal theory of memory and the simulation theory of memory. Each theory faces difficulties: the causal theory does not offer the most comprehensive view of episodic memory, especially in the light of recent scientific findings, while the simulation theory, although comprehensive, has to deal with worries about the accuracy of memories that could be constructed.
Read the rest (2 more)
I examine the accuracy problem and show how the simulation theory of remembering does offer a comprehensive account of episodic memory that can construct accurate memories. I discovered that the method of loci, a mnemonic technique favoured by memory athletes, utilises a natural ability that everyone has for remembering visual and spatial information. The employment of the method of loci requires using imagination in a controlled and targeted manner.
Imagination can be utilised in a way that satisfies the accuracy demands of successful remembering. This offers a compelling reason to adopt the simulation theory of remembering’s central tenet – that remembering is imagining the past.
Links
Where it is published
- DOI doi.org/10.17034/32805539.v1 ↗
DOI / persistent id · from zivahub uct ac za
Catalogue records · 1
- OAI-PMH record api.figshare.com/v2/oai?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=oai_dc&identifier=oai%3Af… ↗
metadata API · from zivahub uct ac za
Topics
- From keywords
- Earth & Environmental Science · Earth & Environmental Science · Earth & Environmental Science
- Inferred from text
- Simulation 75%
Provenance · 3 source records, 8 field assertions
| Source | Key | Last seen | Raw |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZivaHub | oai:figshare.com:article/32805539 | 13 d ago | JSON v1 |
| Deakin Research Online | oai:figshare.com:article/32805539 | 13 d ago | JSON v1 |
| DMU Figshare | oai:figshare.com:article/32805539 | 13 d ago | JSON v1 |
| Field | Assertion | Extractor | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmental | mapping · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmental | mapping · figshare dmu ac uk | connector:figshare_dmu_ac_uk@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[field].local:field:earth-environmental | mapping · dro deakin edu au | connector:dro_deakin_edu_au@1.0.0 | |
| concepts[method].local:method:simulation | enrichment · zivahub uct ac za | keyword-concept-rules@1.0.0 | title+description (75%) |
| description | source · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | /metadata/dc/description |
| license_text | source · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | |
| publication_date | source · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | |
| title | source · zivahub uct ac za | connector:zivahub_uct_ac_za@1.0.0 | /metadata/dc/title |