Flashbulb memory

What is flashbulb memory?

Flashbulb memories are distinctly vivid, precise, concrete, long-lasting memories of a shocking events. People remember with clarity every detail, what were doing when it happened, with whom they were and where they were. The flashbulb memory is not as accurate or permanent as the photographic, but the flashbulb is less effected with time. The flashbulb memory are stored at one occasion and retained. This memories can be associated with big historical events or autobiographical events. The emotional arousal at the moment that the event was recorded makes the flashbulb memory special. It also increases the ability to recall details from the event.

Brown & Kulik (1977)

Their aim was to find out whether dramatic,  or personally significant events can cause "flashbulb" memory. The asked the participants about 5 major events like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and their memories on them. What they were doing, where were they when they heard the news. They found out that the flashbulb memory is more likely for unexpected and personally relevant shocking events. The memories for those events were vivid, detailed and long lasting. They remembered what they were doing, where were they, whit whom they were, how they felt when they heard the news and how people around them reacted. Dramatic events can cause a physiological imprinting of a memory of the event. The strength of FBM is that it provides evidence to support anecdotal and personal experience. Data were collected trough questionnaires so you cannot verify them and the repetition of those events could make you remember more from those events.

Neisser & Harsch (1992)

They studied the space shuttle disaster. They asked the participants one they after the disaster and 2.5 years later. The questions were : what were they doing, with whom they were, how did they found out etc. Participants reported highly vivid memories, but they were not accurate or didn't make any sense. The memories deteriorated significantly during the 2.5 years. The conclusion is that the FBM are no more reliable then normal memories. The results suggest that what is different is the confidence that people have in their memories associated with significant events.

Talarico & Rubin (2003)

Their aim was to find out the differences between TBM and normal  memories. They asked the participants to recall their memories on 9/11 and one ordinary event of their chose on different occasions 1, 7, 42 and 224 days after the event. In the later sessions they were asked the same questions about 9/11 and the ordinary event. The number of details were similar and sometimes even identical. Over the time their memories changed for both events. However, they believed more in the accuracy of the 9/11 memories. They stated that the rate of forgetting is the some, but people are more confident in their memories on the 9/11 even as the memories were forgotten. We can conclude that the rate of forgetting flashbulb memories is the same as for normal memories. This study also states that there is no difference in the memories, but in the confidence. The weakness of this theory is that they only tested retention intervals of eight month or less.

What are the important determinants of FBM?
Events that are shocking, surprising and often a national tragedy.

What role does emotion play in FBM?
Emotions play a big role in the FBM. So far it seems that amygdala that is responsible for emotions and triggers them faster than our conscious awareness. The shock that we go through when something consequential happens imprints into amygdala because of our emotional shock.