What is confabulation?

Confabulation refers to the creation of false memories or stories by an individual, without the intention of deceit. Andrew Huberman explains that this phenomenon occurs when the brain generates elaborate stories to fill in memory gaps. It's common among people with memory deficits, such as those with dementia or brain injuries, who might find themselves in unfamiliar situations and create detailed narratives to explain their actions, even if those narratives are not based on reality.

For instance, individuals with dementia might create stories about daily activities they didn't actually perform, simply because their brain is trying to make sense of their current situation 1 2. In the context of psychology, confabulation can also manifest in various mental health conditions, such as major depression, where individuals create delusional and self-deprecating narratives that don't align with their true progress or abilities 1.