OKI Wanna Know: Braking for your highway traffic questions
WVXU turns to UC's Rebecca Borah to unpack how perception shapes thought about traffic patterns
University of Cincinnati associate professor of English, Rebecca Borah was featured on WVXU’s OKI Wanna Know segment, explaining why commuters may believe they see more semi trucks heading south in the evening or more abandoned vehicles along Ohio highways.
In the segment, Borah tells host Bill Rinehart that the phenomenon is rooted in perception and pattern recognition, similar to the “Mandela effect,” where people share false or exaggerated memories. Once something is noticed or called to attention, she explained, people are more likely to see it repeatedly and assume it is increasing, even when data may not support that impression.
Borah primarily teaches English composition courses but is also a pop culture expert frequently interviewed by members of the media about myths, folklore, monsters, comic books, superheroes, fantasy, and fan culture.
Featured image at top courtesy of iStock Photo/D Kart.
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