Flashbulb memories: Memorys of extraordinary clarity, typically for highly emotional events, retained despite the passage of many years. Flashbulb memories seem extraordinarily vivid and are rich in detail, but are these memories correct? Research indicates that some flashbulb memories contain large-scale errors: Neisser and Harsch interviewed college students one day after the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. They then reinterviewed these students 3 years later, asking the same questions about the shuttle explosion. The results show little agreement between the immediate and delayed reports.
Other data tell a different story, suggesting that some flashbulb memories are accurate. Why should this be? One key factor seems to be the consequentiality of the flashbulb event. If the event matters directly for the participant's life, then the event is more likely to be remembered accurately.