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in: Psychology

Memory

Revision as of 05:53, 21 November 2012 by 24.184.63.40 (contribs) (→‎Known shared or stored memories: grammar edit)
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Memories about Riddle

Several stored memories

A memory is a record of an event originating from a person's mind.

About

Extraction and external viewing

Dumbledore Memory

Dumbledore withdrawing a memory

Memories can be extracted from a person's mind and reviewed, from an outside point of view, in a pensieve. These memories appear as silver, hair-like wisps, and can be stored in bottles. Extracted memories can be altered, as Horace Slughorn attempted to do to a memory he gave to Albus Dumbledore in the 1996–1997 school year, although such alterations leave noticeable flaws in the recollection; Dumbledore noted it was crudely done, so if done with more details and skills, a false memory may not be flawed. A fragment of Lord Voldemort's soul was able to show his memories through the power of his diary, rather than the need of extracting it and placing it into a pensieve.

Memory

The memory when it is between the 'brain' and the wand

Once viewing the memory, the viewers cannot be seen or heard by anyone other than other viewers. However, it is not revealed whether or not they physically disrupt the memories. Viewers can walk on solid ground and be blocked by physical barriers such as walls, but it is not known what would happen if a moving object in the memory (such as a person) colided with a viewer (e.g. whether the viewer would be pushed back, or whether the object would go through the viewer).

Memoryouthead

The memory out of the head, ready to be put inside a Pensieve or a vial

Internal viewing

Memories can be read without the needs of extracting them, through the powers of Legilimency; however, those that were extracted and then deposited into a magical device like the Pensieve can no longer be viewed through this manner. Also, Veritaserum works based on the memories of the person, and if there are any alterations done to such memories, they would speak what they assume to be the truth, not the truth that has been suppressed. Occlumency, the art of suppressing such memories and thoughts, is a way to counter the two aforementioned methods.

External interference and damage

Memories can receive external interferences such as the Memory Charm or False Memory Charm, which can suppress certain memories or create fake ones, respectively. Such alterations may cause permanent memory damage if done at great intensity or incorrectly, as Gilderoy Lockhart and Bertha Jorkins both suffered severe amnesia that was irreversible. When Lord Voldemort forcibly broke through the Memory Charm on the latter, she remembered all of the things that were suppressed, but at the price of her body and mind suffered damage far beyond repair. Such alterations can also be bypassed such as when Dumbledore extracted a true memory over a false one in Morfin Gaunt, though he noted it to be a difficult task. In a related matter, one's memories may be improved through a Memory Potion, Baruffio's Brain Elixir and powdered dragon claw.

Known shared or stored memories

Pensieve 2

The pensieve, a device used to review memories.

Appearances

See also

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