flashbulb memory example

What Is Flashbulb Memory? People tend to remember very specific details of flashbulb memories. Flashbulb memories are vivid, detailed memories of surprising, consequential, and emotionally arousing events like the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Because of their actions on brain structures known to be involved in fear detection and memory for emotionally relevant information, the stress hormones enhance the formation of the so-called ‘flashbulb memories’ of events related to strong emotions that are usually associated with absolute stress. It is a moment that is stored permanently, etched in one's mind for eternity.

A flashbulb memory is a vivid and concrete memory that is created in the brain when a person experiences or learns of emotional, shocking events.

Flashbulb memories result from the discovery of a shocking event. A flashbulb memory is a highly detailed, exceptionally vivid 'snapshot' of the moment and circumstances in which a piece of surprising and consequential (or emotionally arousing) news was learned about.

They are primarily autobiographical and heavy in emotional content. Flashbulb memories as the name suggests are memories characterised by great preservation of detail. For many Americans, September 11, 2001, is a date that holds particular significance. Flashbulb Memory Example. The term “flashbulb memory” was introduced in 1977 by Roger Brown and James Kulik, but the phenomenon was known to scholars well before then.