• Understand the functions of different brain parts in memory
• Compare and contrast anterograde and retrograde amnesia

Watch this video to learn more about flashbulb memories, and why some of these vivid memories aren’t always as accurate as we may believe.

You can view the transcript for “Your Most Vivid Memories Aren’t As Accurate As You Think” here (opens in new window).

Flashbulb Memories and Covid-19

For generations before now, the widely-accepted flashbulb memory was 9/11, the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. This event took the United States by storm, and if you asked any adult, many could tell you exactly where they were when they first heard the news. For Millennials and beyond, it may be COVID-19. We will remember this nationwide emergency as it formed into a chaotic preparation for the apocalypse. For students, it was the realization that they may never go back to school for their 2019-2020 school year. So, where were you when this news rang into your ear? What will you remember? Is this your flashbulb memory?

Researchers have wondered about how people have remembered their experiences during the early Covid-19 Pandemic. Did the news related to COVID-19—and more precisely, when people learned of the pandemic-related shutdowns—create flashbulb memories? And, if it did, were there other factors that increased the cognitive impression?

Bella Martinsic, a research assistant working with Dr. Arla Clark Foose in the Hulk Research Lab, conducted research on flashbulb memories and their connection to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Martincic, the news about the pandemic unfolded gradually rather than being a sudden shocking event. This led Martincic to question whether people formed flashbulb memories in response to the pandemic. However, the data collected suggests that people did indeed create flashbulb memories, particularly when it came to state shutdowns. Participants were able to recall specific details such as their location, activities, and the time of day when they heard the news.

The implications of these vivid and long-lasting memories formed during the pandemic and government response remain to be explored.^[1]

Open this link to see the brief presentation (4:51) by Bella Martinsic during the CASL Sargon Partners Undergraduate Research Showcase.

Inaccurate and False Memories

Even flashbulb memories for important events can have decreased accuracy with the passage of time.

One recent example of decreased accuracy in flashbulb memories with the passage of time is the reporting of the Capitol riot that took place on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Initially, there were various accounts and perceptions of the events, with individuals recalling different details and interpretations of what transpired. As time has passed, subsequent investigations, testimonies, and analysis have provided a more comprehensive understanding of the events, leading to revised and refined accounts of the incident. This highlights how the accuracy of flashbulb memories can evolve and be influenced by additional information and collective reassessment over time.

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