The Distorted Effects of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Memory and Time Perception: Study

COVID-19 lockdowns have caused people to lose track of time and affected their memory, according to a study published in the journal PLOS One. Scottish researchers found that people made errors when trying to remember events from 2021, findings that are consistent with memory lapses experienced by people who have served jail time. The inability to accurately recall a timeline of events correlated with reports of depression, anxiety, and stressful physical and mental demands. The researchers believe that "anchoring" life events is vital for accurate recollection of timelines, and these were in short supply after pandemic lockdowns began in 2020.