False memory (DRM paradigm)

Biological Parallel

Pattern completion systems predict missing data—when shown 'nurse, hospital, medicine,' the brain generates 'doctor' even if never presented because patterns matter more than specifics. False memories arise from gist extraction: the brain stores thematic patterns and reconstructs details during retrieval, sometimes generating plausible but incorrect specifics. This is prediction over recording: memory evolved to fill gaps with likely scenarios, trading accuracy for actionable models.