Flash memory

A Flash memory is a vivid and long-lasting memory which is often triggered by emotional and social factors. Flash memories are saved in the context in which they were first heard of or experienced. “People are able to remember vividly for a long time the original event together with the reception context, like where they were and what they were doing when they first learnt about the event” (Luminet et al, 2000, p.662).

Recent studies on flash memories have focused on important public and historical events. Examples include the assassination of J.F. Kennedy and the September 11^th terrorist attacks. The two main elements which have been identified by psychologists in their studies on flash memories are surprise and the importance of the original event (Winningham, Hyman & Dinnel, 2000). If an event triggers a high level of surprise on the respondent and it is substantially perceived to be important, then it will become a flash memory and be remembered for a long time.

In a bid to illustrate the nature of flash memories, Brown & Kulik (1977) conducted a study on how the deaths of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were remembered by African-American and Caucasian participants. “The levels of consequentiality were substantially different in the two groups considered” (Brown &Kulik, 2007, p.74). The African-American participants had significantly higher flash memories on the two events than the Caucasian participants. Brown & Kulik (1977) explained that flash memories occur when a special encoding mechanism within the brain is triggered by the original event and this makes the memory to be vivid and long-lasting.

 However, the encoding hypothesis has been disapproved by some psychologists and they argue that post-encoding factors are the ones which play a part in yielding flash memories (constructivist approach).  Proponents of the constructivist approach state that continued rehearsal of the original event contributes to the formation and maintenance of flash memories. Moreover, they argue that flash memories are not as long-lasting as they are perceived to be. They are sometimes inaccurate and prone to decay. The continued rehearsals actually modify the original event and like ordinary memories, this may lead to distortion and biasness over time.

The aspect of rehearsals in flash memories encompasses the emotional and social factors which act as triggers. Following debates related to the original event in the media, talking about the vent with others and even thinking about the original event are all examples of rehearsals (Luminet et al, 2000). “The constructivist approach relies considerably on societal factors to explain the formation and maintenance of flashbulb memories” (Winningham, Hyman & Dinnel, 2000, p.209). The role played by the media and the social sharing of information with friends are strongly emphasized in the constructivist approach.

However the impact of emotions, surprise and the perceived importance of the event is also acknowledged by the constructivists. Brown & Kulik (1977) also did acknowledge that there is link between emotion and memory in flash memories. This is explained by the fact that people retain different memories from the same emotional experience. “People are differently affected by an event, because of the different level of consequentiality ascribed to it” (Brown & Kulik, 2007, p.88).

From an evolutionary perspective, people will react differently to the potential harm or benefit of an event. In the context of flash memories, they arise when they are evaluated as being highly significant or consequential to the life of a person. If the event has a high degree of consequentiality, then there would be a better encoding which would lead to a vivid and long-lasting memory. The constructivist approach attributes the existence of flash memories to continued rehearsals of the original event. The rehearsals will again occur if the event is perceived to be important.

References

Brown, R., & Kulik, J. (1977). Flashbulb memories. Cognition, 5, 73–99.

Luminet, O., et al. (2000). Social sharing of emotion following exposure to a negatively valenced

            situation. Cognition & Emotion, 14, 661–688.

Winningham, R.G., Hyman, I.E., Jr., & Dinnel, D.L. (2000). Flashbulb memories? The effects

            of when the initial memory report was obtained. Memory, 8, 209–216.