A rare disease destroyed both amygdalae of the patient known as “S.M.” Snakes, spiders, haunted houses, horror films: nothing scares her, and she readily approaches danger. But in 2013, when researchers had her inhale CO₂-enriched air, she had a full-blown panic attack. Fear of outside threats and fear arising inside the body run through different circuits.
Remembering is not replaying a recording — it is rebuilding. Each time you recall a memory, it becomes temporarily malleable and can be altered before being stored again. That is why two people can sincerely remember the same event… differently.
In 2003, Johnson and Goldstein compared European countries. Where you must tick a box to become a donor, consent rates ranged from 4% to 28%. Where you're a donor by default unless you opt out, they topped 85%. People aren't more generous on one side; most simply stick with whatever option was chosen for them.