RALEIGH - Do you remember exactly where you were during 9/11? What about the assassination of JFK?

  • The ability to remember a memory like one of these events in detail is due to a phenomenon called Flashbulb Memory
  • Professor of Psychology, Jennifer Tallorica says these are memories "for events that are remote, distant, don't have much direct or immediate consequences for us"
  • Professor Tallorica says even if we remember them vividly, they're not always accurate

The ability to remember a memory like one of these events in detail is due to a phenomenon called Flashbulb Memory.

Professor of Psychology, Jennifer Tallorica says these are memories "for events that are remote, distant, don't have much direct or immediate consequences for us."

She says these memories are collected during events that are important to your social group, such as your nationality, profession, or even something like a sports team.

Professor Tallorica says even if we remember them vividly, they're not always accurate.

"Even though we feel like we remember these events really clearly, there is an interesting phenomenon where we tend to be less wiling to believe that we're making memory errors, forgetting details or adding in some details," says Professor Tallorica

Regardless, your brain holds on to these memories to connect with others and to remember.