Bridging the Gap Between Believing and Memory Functions

Abstract

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.

Keywords: beliefs; believing; brain; credition; meaning; memory; neural processes.

Figure 1. Schematic Model of the Neural Processes Affording Formation and Updating of Beliefs

Note. Shown are the different types of ingoing information leading to corresponding categories of beliefs. The bi-directional arrows indicate bottom-up and top-down processing. Prediction errors of actions are fed backwards allowing for belief updating.

Figure 2. Schematic Model of the Evolution of Processes of Believing and the Interrelations With Memory Functions

Note. Flow of information concerning awareness and semantic coding is bi-directional.