The theory of memory reconstruction says that sometimes we can "retrieve" memory that did not even happen simply because other cognitive evidence affected it.

Our brains are trying always to have a clear memory as possible, to sometimes it will recollect memory that is not as accurate as it was. When we recoil it, it will even feel little it was clear, like the video, even though it is full of errors.

As the brain tries to have as full memory as possible, many things will easily affect it, like perception, imagination, beliefs, and outer influences.

In this case, we witnessed something, but as we do not have full information - the hair color of the criminal - our memory is influenced by the outside source of the newspaper. It builds on the picture of what we have and that is how we, all of a sudden, have a vivid picture of flowing black hair that we did not eyewitness.

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