In this episode of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, Season 07, Episode 08, we delve into Chapter 8 of Atkinson & Hilgard's Introduction to Psychology 15th Edition to unravel the fascinating and often fallible nature of human memory. We begin by examining the dramatic true story of Ronald Cotton and Jennifer Thompson, illustrating how mistaken eyewitness identification can lead to devastating consequences due to the phenomenon of false memories. The episode then breaks down memory into its fundamental components, exploring the three stages of memory (encoding, storage, and retrieval) and the three distinct memory stores: sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory. Listeners will learn about the surprising limited capacity of working memory (the "magic number seven" or 7±2 chunks) and how chunking allows us to overcome this limitation. We also differentiate between explicit and implicit memory, exploring how our brains store facts versus skills. A highlight includes recent cutting-edge research on how brain activity during an experience can surprisingly resemble activity during its later recall. The episode then takes a critical look at constructive memory, revealing why our memories are not like videotapes but are instead actively reconstructed based on expectations, inferences, and post-event information. This leads to a crucial discussion on the malleability of memory, its implications for the legal system, particularly concerning eyewitness testimony and the alarming ease with which false memories and even confessions can be planted. Finally, we offer practical techniques for improving memory, from using imagery and elaboration to practicing retrieval and organizing information effectively.