The Berenstain Bears

The human brain is a series of mazes and channels that enable a being to function. The brain is deeply depended on. It contains the information of allowing a person to memorize, breathe, and to perform everyday tasks. But has the brain ever been altered? Would the brain be able to remember an event that has never happened?
The human brain constantly alters itself to fit into the world. It uses sense and smell to create false memories one remembers. In 1994 Elizabeth Loftus carried out an experiment, where she was able to convince a quarter of the participants they were lost in a shopping center as a child (Hogenboom). A similar study in 2002 found that half of the people who participated were tricked into believing they had taken a hot balloon
ride as a child, due to photographic evidence. (Garry). The brain is easily manipulated, but multiple people whom do not live in the same regions misremember similar events.
A recent phenomenon has spread across the Internet that has people questioning themselves and the world they live in. In 2010 Fiona Broome launched a website claiming the theory of “The Mandela Effect”, in 2016 it resurfaced. The “Mandela Effect” is what happens when someone has a clear memory of something that never happened in this reality (Broome). How is this possible? The theory goes on to explain how one has entered a parallel reality without fully remembering the event using a doorway as an example. In this example, a teenager is in the year of 1986 and news of Nelson Mandela being sent to prison, due to the participation of yet another hunger strike, is worldwide. One morning the teenager, half consciously, goes through their bedroom door and suddenly enters the year 2013; the teenager goes about his or her regular morning routine as their mother discusses the death of Nelson Mandela that year. He/she returns back to the room and goes, once again through the bedroom door, back into 1986 (Broome).
Nelson Mandela was a Civil Rights Activist who directed a campaign of peaceful, nonviolent actions against the South African Government, he was later imprisoned during one of these actions (Biography.com Editors). On May 10th, 1994, years after being released from prison, Mandela was elected as the South African president (Biography). Mandela later died at the age of 95. Why does he play a key role in this theory? A large percentage of people remember Mandela dying in prison; yet he died on December 5th, 2013. Was this the brain misunderstanding a piece of information? If so, how could multiple people remember the same event? People from all over the world have had discussions of remembering the same event occurring by connecting over social media. Because Nelson Mandela’s case was the most misinterpreted, the creator of the theory decided to name it after him (Broome). After more research, this is not the only misinterpreted event.
Shortly after starting a family, Stan and Jan Berenstain created the beloved and well known children’s book “The Berenstain Bears”.
The first book was released in 1962 and published by Dr. Seuss. The book features a family of bears whom learn lessons and morals during family adventures or from certain situations. Since the release, more than two hundred books have been written, and over two hundred and fifty million copies have been printed (“About the Berenstain Bears”). What relevance does this have to the Mandela effect? This is important to mention because a large percentage of people recall the word “Berenstain” spelled as “Berenstein” (Broome). Many have also depended on their photographic memory to remember the proper pronunciation and spelling of the word. From Broome’s website more than 70% of visitors to the site admitted to seeing pictures and books with the last name spelled with an “ei” instead of an “ai” (Broome). As mentioned before, the brain can be manipulated by pictures.
The possibility of slipping in and out of a parallel universe is theoretically possible. (Howell)The idea is featured in famous comic books, and science fiction themed movies. Science.com has 5 known theories for the possibility of an alternate universe. One example provided was supported by the information of not knowing exactly how space time is shaped, it may be flat and go on forever. (Howell). Because the Earth is such an old age, many find it hard to believe human kind is the only known being in only one universe, in any shape or form. The possibilities are
endless. Although the possibility of there being an alternate universe is very likely, many choose to believe otherwise (Emery). It is extremely important to remember that the human brain can be manipulated. Multiple studies and research of the brain have concluded that the brain can create false memories, when manipulated (Garry). Many of the people whom have experienced the Mandela effect recall seeing pictures of the events. Many have recalled news articles and videos of Mandela’s death back in 1986. Those who have experienced the Mandela effect by recalling “Berenstain” being spelled as “Berenstain” have also been victims to photographic evidence. Fiona Broome also has a website created to explain the theory in further depth, she also has the site open to those who feel the need to share an event that has never happened. Nelson Mandela and the Berenstain Bears are the most common and well known examples.