How Flashbulb Memory Works: Understanding the Formation and Accuracy of Emotionally Charged Memories

flashbulb memory

clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

Flashbulb memory refers to a type of vivid, detailed and emotionally charged memory associated with an important or highly significant event. These are typically events that people experience firsthand or via media coverage, such as major historical events, national or global catastrophes, personal life-altering events, such as marriage, birth of a child or the death of a loved one.

Flashbulb memories are characterized by the strong emotions they evoke, their salience, and their enduring quality. They tend to be formed quickly and easily, with some evidence suggesting that they may be stored differently in the brain compared to other types of memories.

The theory behind flashbulb memory posits that the vividness and complexity of these memories is linked to the level of personal significance that the event holds for the individual, and the amount of media coverage or discussion that follows the event.

However, it is important to note that not all memories of significant events are automatically flashbulb memories, and that the accuracy of flashbulb memories can decrease over time due to various factors such as exposure to misinformation, incomplete encoding or interference from other memories.

Overall, flashbulb memory is an interesting and intriguing phenomenon that has been extensively studied by researchers in the fields of psychology and cognitive neuroscience, and it continues to spark interest and debate among experts in the field.

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