Last updated on March 17, 2014 at 15:28 EDT  Thanks For The
Memories  June 30, 2011  How easy is it to falsify memory? New
research at the Weizmann Institute shows that a bit of social
pressure may be all that is needed. The study reveals a unique
pattern of brain activity when false memories are formed ““ one
that hints at a surprising connection between our social selves
and memory.   They were later invited back to the lab to retake
the test while being scanned in a functional MRI (fMRI) that
revealed their brain activity. This time, the subjects were also
given a “lifeline”: the supposed answers of the others in their
film viewing group (along with social-media-style photos).
Planted among these were false answers to questions the
volunteers had previously answered correctly and confidently.
The participants conformed to the group on these “planted”
responses, giving incorrect answers nearly 70% of the time.  But
were they simply conforming to perceived social demands, or had
their memory of the film actu