Role of Emotion in Memory/ Flashbulb Memory (FBM)

Who proposed the theory of flashbulb memory?

Brown & Kulik (1977)

What are flashbulb memories (FBMs)?

vivid, detailed memories of emotional significant and surprising events, are like a “snapshot” of the moment

What do the researchers argue? (2)

1. There is a biological apparatus called the Special-biological mechanism which when triggered by an event exceeding crucial levels of surprise, creates a permanent record of the details of that experience. 

2. FBMs are believed to have different characteristics and be more resistant to forgetting than ordinary memories.

What is the importance-driven model?

a  commonly accepted model of flashbulb memory and it emphasises that personal consequences/relevance determine the intensity of emotional reactions. 

Biological evidence

Recent studies found that the amygdala, a small structure in the temporal lobe, is believed to play a critical role in emotional memories.

2 studies that support FBM from the biological approach

• McGaugh & Cahill (1995): Participants remembered details when they had an emotional response to a story, but remembered less when they had an emotional response but adrenaline levels were artificially suppressed.

• Sharot et al. (2007): fMRI showed higher amygdalar activation in 9/11 eyewitnesses closer to the World Trade Center, indicating a stronger FBM

what gene may influence FBM formation

• α2b-adrenoceptor gene

• found in the amygdala and promotes memory formation, but only if it is stimulated by adrenaline.

What biological evidence supports the α2b-adrenoceptor gene’s involvement in FBM?

• Quervain et al. (2007): Argues that there may be genetic roots to one’s likelihood to having flashbulb memory. 

  • The gene for α2b-adrenoceptor comes in 2 variations. They found that participants with the less common version had significantly more flashbacks than those with only the common one.

• Collectivistic cultures (e.g. China) show weaker FBMs due to less emphasis on personal emotions and less rehearsal

Strengths (2)

• Support from biological evidence in the role of emotion in memory formation (e.g. McGaugh & Cahill (1995), Sharot et al. (2007))

• Challenged our understanding of memory and led to findings that different types of memories are processed in different parts of the brain

Limitations (5)

• Neisser (1982) argues that it is one’s level of confidence, not accuracy, which defines FBM

• Several constructs in the study of FBM are problematic such as level of personal relevance, level of surprise, amount of overt rehearsal)

• Cultural differences that indicate that rehearsal may play the most important role in the development of FBM

  • Kulkofsky et al. (2011): In collectivistic cultures (e.g.China), personal importance and intensity of emotion played less of a role in predicting FBM, compared with more individualistic cultures (e.g. US) which place greater emphasis on an individual’s personal involvement and emotional experiences. 

• Often with real-life research on the topic, it is impossible to verify the accuracy of memories

• It is not possible to measure one’s emotional state at the time of an event thus making it impossible to demonstrate a clear causal explanation