How Does the Brain’s Perception of Episodic Memory Change Over Time?

Episodic memory is important and vital because it determines how someone views themselves and the world around them. The objective of this review was to understand how episodic memory develops over time and to determine whether there is a difference in perceiving episodic memories that changes with age. The studies selected were found on the Science Direct database, and the papers included were focused on how episodic memory develops over time for different age groups. This paper found that episodic memory improves rapidly during childhood, with structural development in early childhood, strategic developments in middle childhood, and strategic refinements and improvements in overall efficiency in adolescence, peaking with young adults, and some aspects declining with old age. This concluded that childhood is the most important time for episodic memory development. Further research needs to be done to understand how people perceive their own episodic memories, and more work needs to be done on how the perception of a memory can, if possible, be objectively rated for a more concrete approach and understanding.