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: Grits for Breakfast

How much do eyewitnesses really see?

How much of what an eyewitness "sees" represents inputs from the outside world, and how much of it is constructed by the brain?My layman's grasp of new brain science currently revolutionizing views of human cognition remains spotty at best, but much of what's coming out on the topic appears to have implications for the criminal justice arena. Take, for example, the debate over the best procedures for gathering eyewitness identification, long considered the gold standard (or perhaps silver, after a confession) for gaining a conviction in court. Scientists are learning that to a great extent what we see is constructed by the brain from memory instead of reflecting an image of the outside world.In an extensive article in the June 30 New Yorker on the brain and itching ("The Itch" - not online but see discussions here and here), surgeon and author Dr...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on July 02, 2008 (boomark / email).