On the ride home from her senior prom, Mary's date ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle. Twenty years later, Mary can still remember the song that was playing on the radio at the time of the crash. This memory is best described as a(n) ________ memory.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Flashbulb memories are highly detailed and vivid memories of significant events that are retained over time, such as hearing the news of a major disaster or learning of the death of a loved one. The emotional intensity of these events can lead to a strong encoding and consolidation of the memory, allowing it to be recalled with great clarity years later. In this case, the traumatic experience of the car accident and the strong emotional response to it may have contributed to Mary's ability to recall the song from that moment so vividly, even after 20 years.

On the Ride Home from Her Senior Prom, Mary's Date