Examines common assumptions about children's memory and discusses their implications for legal practice. Asserts that, while research has shown that children recall less than adults, there is little evidence for other deficits in children's memory. Describes research suggesting that children may have difficulty with some, but not all,…

Reviews research which has demonstrated an own-race bias in recognition accuracy. Analyzes the impact of differential recognition on the criminal justice system, focusing on the construction of fair lineups and the likelihood of misidentification of innocent persons. Evaluates several explanations to account for this bias and relates findings to…

Reviews studies of face-recognition memory and considers implications for assessing the dependability of children's performances as eyewitnesses. Considers personal factors (age, intellectual differences, and gender) and situational factors (familiarity of face, retention interval, and others). Also identifies developmental questions for future…

Research has demonstrated that memory is prone to distortion and is occasionally untrustworthy. Explores the reasons for false memories and explains that memories are vulnerable to postevent information, which can be integrated into memories. False memories can also come from leading questions, word associations, and unconscious editing by the…

Although memory researchers differ in exactly how they view the divisions of memory, there are numerous distinct types. One critical dimension in which memories differ is how long they last. Outlines various types of memories including long-term, short-term (i.e., working), and procedural memory, and discusses brain research that has led to…

Fleeting electrochemical connections made between brain cells help people remember the thoughts, skills, experiences, and knowledge that make them unique. Presents the dissection of the brain of a sheep, an animal in which brain structure and function are similar to that in humans, to demonstrate where these processes take place. (PVD)