Flash bulb memory

Critically evaluate the claim that flash medulla memories atomic number 18 qualitatively different to separate memories reposition In psychology is the physical series of compositors cases inside the brain that encode, store and retrieve reading within the homosexual body. When learn is encoded within our remembering it reaches our primary five senses and is converted into chemical and physical stimuli. This stimuli is stored in the next stage of the remembrance process where in physical bodyation if retained for potentially decades of fourth dimension within us. We tail assembly retrieve this in abidanceation by locating it within our subconscious.This can be effortless or difficult but this is based around the type of shop solicitudeed. Memory itself can be broken down into three areas as shown by this image (The Human Memory 2013) Long-term recollection board is the area of concern as this is where the topic of Flashmedulla remembrance and the memories that it c an be qualitatively analysed with are found. Long term memory is exactly what you would expect it to be and that is the storage of information within the brain over vast periods of clip which is a seemingly never ending storage system.Information decays over time as people grow old but it is in ome make out whether humans ever really forget information or it but becomes too strenuous on the brain to recall the information in question. (The Human Memory 2013) Flashmedulla memory is the main topic and is within the category of yearn-term memory and in its most simple form it is the memories a person forms when they witness a shocking or truly significant even sot within the world.An showcase of a significant situation in the world whitethorn be the assassination of a world leader or the day you won the lottery for instance as an example of what both a shocking and a significant event may be for someone in the world. An individual after having witnessed or go through a life a ltering event may experience the effect of flash bulb memory and astonishingly be able to call an event at a very high level of flesh out at the moment the event took place.For example an individual may project the ability to recall where they were at the time and who they were with, perhaps what they were wearing or what emotions they were tonusing throughout the event when it took place. A quick example of an event that many said to have retained a precise and accurate account of in the United States what the assassination of President jakes F. Kennedy even decades after it has taken place. 1 It is the first type of memory that showed the potential fundamental interaction betwixt emotion and the cognitive process of memory itself and how they can genuinely be linked together.However it is still being debated whether the flash bulb memory is simply a unique or fussy type of memory or is it the same and Just as unreliable as other types of memory. cook Kulik created and experiment in 1977 from which they became the first ambassadors of nonion that that flash bulb memory was triggered by important events in an individuals life. It was the first type of memory that showed the potential interaction between emotion and the cognitive process of memory itself and how they can actually be linked together.Brown and Kulik describe flash bulb memory as the remembrance ot extremely detailed and vivid memories which are significant to the individual concerned. They also are memories that are extremely foul to being forgotten over large quantities of time. In the Study Brown & Kulik originally carried out in 1977 the way in which many viewed how they see light bulb memory and in essence redefined it. The aim of this ruminate was to bewilder out if dramatic or ndividually momentous events would cause these so called flash bulb memories.They initially asked forty white and black American citizens if they could remember vivid imagery when they heard that a ma jor event in the past had happened in a questionnaire format. Examples given were the assassination of John F. Kennedy or the death of Princess Diana as well as others. They then tried and true their initial prediction (that these influential events would have caused and now cause retrospect of light bulb memory) against non-consequential more monotonous events in a persons life. boilers suit it was found that flash bulb memory was more likely to be remembered of a shocking, disturbing or momentous event in a persons life.Issues personally relevant were also likely to be remembered with flash bulb memory. (1B Psychology (Diana) 2011) It is believed by many that a flash bulb memory can be more accurate and longer lasting than utility(a) memory types such as Brown Kulik who believed flash bulb memories were long term aspects of a persons inherent memory in which they could remember particular proposition instances and aspects they otherwise could not, while hey did believe these memories were not always accessible by the person as they deteriorate with age. They also believed that an event remembered with flashbulb memory would depend heavily on different factors.The proximity firstly between the person impacted and the event itself would affect the memory as the encompassing(prenominal) a person was to an event the more involved and immersed they would become in the scenario. The emotion the individual felt when the scenario played out is another key fruit factor as this emotion may be so brawny it triggers a light bulb memory. The distinctiveness of he scenario is very important. Was it general place and very much familiar and the person feels like they can simply discard the event or is it so unfamiliar it is some disturbing or creates a burning curiosity and amazement which therefore leads to a flash bulb memory.So from this information Brown & Kulik clearly feel that flash bulb memories are unique themselves and have special properties which read y them apart from run-of-the-mill types of memory. (Wikipedia flash bulb memory 2013) Counter arguments created by Michael McCloskey were made in which he and his fellow olleagues analysed Brown & Kuliks hypothesis and results to form their own findings on the subject of flash bulb memory. Their aim was to find out whether there was really a difference between ordinary trivial memories and distinctive important ones and whether there really is a special implement used for a persons flash bulb memory.The notion that flash bulb memories are simply memories of important events in an individuals life that are in all viable and explicable in terms of the ordinary memory and do not show the existence of a new specific and special mechanism. Michael McCloskey also writes that an event may be seen by the person as more distinctive, influential and consequentially memorable but there is not a way a qualitative distinction can potentially be shown between memories for learning about these shocking and important instances and memories for simply learning about monotonous trivial scenarios.