Psychologists have found that emotionally vivid 'flashbulb memories,' such as memories of the September 11, 2001 attacks, are often surprisingly inaccurate despite feeling clear and detailed.
Notes on verification
Well-corroborated by peer-reviewed research (Talarico & Rubin 2007, Hirst & Phelps longitudinal studies) and multiple science journalism sources (Scientific American, LiveScience, MedicalXpress), consistent with decades of flashbulb memory literature.
Sources
- The Ten Most Disturbing Scientific Discoveries (smithsonianmag.com)
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/911-memory-accuracy/ (scientificamerican.com)
- https://scholars.duke.edu/publication/706668 (scholars.duke.edu)
- https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-flashbulb-memories-shift-certainty.html (medicalxpress.com)