Having no scientific background and inclined to do computer analogies, I tend to think that our brain works like a RRD database [1], that is, we don't completel

Having no scientific background and inclined to do computer analogies, I tend to think that our brain works like a RRD database [1], that is, we don't completely discard old information; instead, we store an aggregation of the said information as new information comes in. Then, these aggregations become our knowledge about a given subject; we don't need to store every detail, as this aggregated view is enough to help us understand new information. Of course, if we ever need to reconstruct every detail of old info, we simply cheat, in the confabulation sense [2], possible with disastrous consequences [3] [1] http://oss.oetiker.ch/rrdtool/ http://oss.oetiker.ch/rrdtool/ [2] http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/02/reconstructing-the-past-how-recalling-memories-alters-them.php http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/02/reconstructing-the-past-how... [3] http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-the-eyes-have-it/ http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-the-eyes-have-i...