Flashbulb Memory Essay

Additionally, the theory of flashbulb memory developed by Brown and Kulik in 1977 provides another explanation why traumatic memories are difficult to forget and are easier to recall than other memories. “Flashbulb memory is a type of episodic (explicit) memory that is highly accurate and exceptionally vivid.” (Hannibal, 32). Brown and Kulik demonstrated from their experiment that flashbulb memories are not accurate, but are more accessible and vivid because they involve strong emotion, which causes one to remember and recall more easily. Traumatic memories are just like the flashbulb memories – involving strong emotion and which in turn are difficult to forget (Hannibal, Jette 32). This feature of traumatic memory is related with one of the seven sins of
It involves brain plasticity, “the ability of the brain to modify its own structure and function following changes within the body or in the external environment.” (What is brain). Simply speaking, it involves changes in neuronal circuits. For example, whenever the neurons try to strengthen a memory, they increase the receptors at the dendrites or increase the amount of neurotransmitters released into the synaptic gap. Therefore, memories are also known to be malleable. Whenever one recalls something, the structure of the brain responsible for that memory is changed depending on the current feelings and knowledge (Lehrer). This occurs in order to reinforce that memory, and in the end, this re-creates that memory. This process is known as memory reconsolidation (Memory Consolidation). Currently, utilizing this process, instead of merely re-creating those memories with positive emotion where the memories still persist, scientists discovered a way to directly erase those memories or let other favorable memories overtake them after erasing those memories. This solved the fundamental problem of PTSD, which will be further discussed in the “unconventional PTSD treatment”