| Tali Sharot – 9/11 Flashbulb Memory (Flashbulb Memory) |
| [A] |
Investigate upon the existence of Flashbulb Memory. |
| [P] |
- 24 witnesses of the 9/11 incident were found from different location of Manhattan as subjects.
- Subjects were placed in an fMRI machine.
- Subjects were asked to recall the event of 9/11.
- Subjects were also asked to recall their summer holiday (for control purpose).
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| [F] |
- People closer to where the event happened (where the World Trade Center was) had a more in-depth recall of the event.
- When compared to subject’s summer holiday, the level of detail given for 9/11 incident was higher.
- Parahippocampal Gyrus (Para-hippo-campal Gy-rus – responsible for LTM retrieval) was relatively inactive when recalling memories from 9/11 when compared to recalling events from summer holiday.
- Amygdala (responsible for processing memory of emotional reaction) was relatively more active when recalling memories from 9/11.
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| [C] |
- Different part of the brain was used for different Flashbulb Memory retrieval and general LTM retrieval.
- Supports Flashbulb Memory as a different type of memory than LTM.
- Collectivist culture – tend to suppress emotion, memory encoded at a shallow level.
- Individualist culture – encouraged to express emotion, memory encoded at a deeper level (Levels of processing theory – Craik & Lockhart).
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| [E] |
- Observing the concentration of deoxygenated haemoglobin is an accurate measure for brain activity.
- Ecologically valid. Questions were asked about real life situations.
- May argue that it is still laboratory condition, overtly observing may cause Demand Characteristics.
- Pressure under lab conditions may cause alteration of results.
- Possible confirmation bias.
- No cause-and-effect relationship can be established through the scan.
- Relies heavily upon the interpretation of the researcher.
- The Amygdala showing response may well be the subject’s expression of depressed emotion while recalling 9/11.
- Ethical considerations: Privacy of the subjects may be invaded because the fMRI indicates a general representation of their thought process.
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