Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11: Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors That Influence Their Retention

William Hirst; Elizabeth A. Phelps; Randy L. Buckner; Andrew E. Budson; Alexandru Cuc; John D E Gabrieli; Marcia K. Johnson; Cindy Lustig; Keith B. Lyle; Mara Mather; Robert Meksin; Karen J. Mitchell; Kevin N. Ochsner; Daniel L. Schacter; Jon S. Simons; Chandan J. Vaidya

doi:10.1037/a0015527

Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11: Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors That Influence Their Retention

William Hirst, Elizabeth A. Phelps, Randy L. Buckner, Andrew E. Budson, Alexandru Cuc, John D E Gabrieli, Marcia K. Johnson, Cindy Lustig, Keith B. Lyle, Mara Mather, Robert Meksin, Karen J. Mitchell, Kevin N. Ochsner, Daniel L. Schacter, Jon S. Simons, Chandan J. Vaidya

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

More than 3,000 individuals from 7 U.S. cities reported on their memories of learning of the terrorist attacks of September 11, as well as details about the attack, 1 week, 11 months, and/or 35 months after the assault. Some studies of flashbulb memories examining long-term retention show slowing in the rate of forgetting after a year, whereas others demonstrate accelerated forgetting. This article indicates that (a) the rate of forgetting for flashbulb memories and event memory (memory for details about the event itself) slows after a year, (b) the strong emotional reactions elicited by flashbulb events are remembered poorly, worse than nonemotional features such as where and from whom one learned of the attack, and (c) the content of flashbulb and event memories stabilizes after a year. The results are discussed in terms of community memory practices.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	161-176
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
Volume	138
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015527
State	Published - May 2009

Keywords

emotional memory
event memory
flashbulb memories
long-term retention
memory practices

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
General Psychology
Developmental Neuroscience

Access to Document

10.1037/a0015527

Cite this

Hirst, W., Phelps, E. A., Buckner, R. L., Budson, A. E., Cuc, A., Gabrieli, J. D. E., Johnson, M. K., Lustig, C., Lyle, K. B., Mather, M., Meksin, R., Mitchell, K. J., Ochsner, K. N., Schacter, D. L., Simons, J. S., & Vaidya, C. J. (2009). Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11: Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors That Influence Their Retention. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 138(2), 161-176. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015527

Hirst, W, Phelps, EA, Buckner, RL, Budson, AE, Cuc, A, Gabrieli, JDE, Johnson, MK, Lustig, C, Lyle, KB, Mather, M, Meksin, R, Mitchell, KJ, Ochsner, KN, Schacter, DL, Simons, JS & Vaidya, CJ 2009, 'Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11: Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors That Influence Their Retention', Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, vol. 138, no. 2, pp. 161-176. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015527

@article{fca5c14cf2fb46a8b4396338c1f99f07,

title = "Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11: Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors That Influence Their Retention",

abstract = "More than 3,000 individuals from 7 U.S. cities reported on their memories of learning of the terrorist attacks of September 11, as well as details about the attack, 1 week, 11 months, and/or 35 months after the assault. Some studies of flashbulb memories examining long-term retention show slowing in the rate of forgetting after a year, whereas others demonstrate accelerated forgetting. This article indicates that (a) the rate of forgetting for flashbulb memories and event memory (memory for details about the event itself) slows after a year, (b) the strong emotional reactions elicited by flashbulb events are remembered poorly, worse than nonemotional features such as where and from whom one learned of the attack, and (c) the content of flashbulb and event memories stabilizes after a year. The results are discussed in terms of community memory practices.",

keywords = "emotional memory, event memory, flashbulb memories, long-term retention, memory practices",

author = "William Hirst and Phelps, {Elizabeth A.} and Buckner, {Randy L.} and Budson, {Andrew E.} and Alexandru Cuc and Gabrieli, {John D E} and Johnson, {Marcia K.} and Cindy Lustig and Lyle, {Keith B.} and Mara Mather and Robert Meksin and Mitchell, {Karen J.} and Ochsner, {Kevin N.} and Schacter, {Daniel L.} and Simons, {Jon S.} and Vaidya, {Chandan J.}",

year = "2009",

month = may,

doi = "10.1037/a0015527",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "138",

pages = "161--176",

journal = "Journal of Experimental Psychology: General",

issn = "0096-3445",

publisher = "American Psychological Association",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11

T2 - Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors That Influence Their Retention

AU - Hirst, William

AU - Phelps, Elizabeth A.

AU - Buckner, Randy L.

AU - Budson, Andrew E.

AU - Cuc, Alexandru

AU - Gabrieli, John D E

AU - Johnson, Marcia K.

AU - Lustig, Cindy

AU - Lyle, Keith B.

AU - Mather, Mara

AU - Meksin, Robert

AU - Mitchell, Karen J.

AU - Ochsner, Kevin N.

AU - Schacter, Daniel L.

AU - Simons, Jon S.

AU - Vaidya, Chandan J.

PY - 2009/5

Y1 - 2009/5

N2 - More than 3,000 individuals from 7 U.S. cities reported on their memories of learning of the terrorist attacks of September 11, as well as details about the attack, 1 week, 11 months, and/or 35 months after the assault. Some studies of flashbulb memories examining long-term retention show slowing in the rate of forgetting after a year, whereas others demonstrate accelerated forgetting. This article indicates that (a) the rate of forgetting for flashbulb memories and event memory (memory for details about the event itself) slows after a year, (b) the strong emotional reactions elicited by flashbulb events are remembered poorly, worse than nonemotional features such as where and from whom one learned of the attack, and (c) the content of flashbulb and event memories stabilizes after a year. The results are discussed in terms of community memory practices.

AB - More than 3,000 individuals from 7 U.S. cities reported on their memories of learning of the terrorist attacks of September 11, as well as details about the attack, 1 week, 11 months, and/or 35 months after the assault. Some studies of flashbulb memories examining long-term retention show slowing in the rate of forgetting after a year, whereas others demonstrate accelerated forgetting. This article indicates that (a) the rate of forgetting for flashbulb memories and event memory (memory for details about the event itself) slows after a year, (b) the strong emotional reactions elicited by flashbulb events are remembered poorly, worse than nonemotional features such as where and from whom one learned of the attack, and (c) the content of flashbulb and event memories stabilizes after a year. The results are discussed in terms of community memory practices.

KW - emotional memory

KW - event memory

KW - flashbulb memories

KW - long-term retention

KW - memory practices

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=65749090651&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=65749090651&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1037/a0015527

DO - 10.1037/a0015527

M3 - Article

C2 - 19397377

AN - SCOPUS:65749090651

SN - 0096-3445

VL - 138

SP - 161

EP - 176

JO - Journal of Experimental Psychology: General

JF - Journal of Experimental Psychology: General

IS - 2

ER -

Long-Term Memory for the Terrorist Attack of September 11: Flashbulb Memories, Event Memories, and the Factors That Influence Their Retention

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this