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Cited by 459Memory Processes and InfluencesMemory and Neural MechanismsIdentity, Memory, and Therapy

Vivid memories of emotional events: the accuracy of remembered minutiae

Open access
Heuer, Friderike, Reisberg, Daniel·1990·Memory & Cognition
DOI 10.3758/bf03198482
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Abstract

It has been claimed that emotional arousal causes a narrowing of attention, and, therefore, impoverished memory encoding. On this view, if details of an emotional event are reported subsequently, these details must be after-the-fact reconstructions that are open to error. Our study challenges these claims. Using a long-term (2-week), incidental learning procedure, we found that emotion promotes memory both for information central to an event and for peripheral detail. This contrasts with the results of explicit instructions to remember or to attend closely to the event, both of which seem to promote memory for the event's gist at the expense of detail. The likely mechanisms underlying these effects are discussed.

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  • Acute stress promotes memory consolidation, resulting in better memory for emotional material than neutral material.

    “Acute stress also promotes memory consolidation, which ultimately results in better memory for emotional material than for neutral material (Cahill and McGaugh, 1995;Heuer and Reisberg, 1990).”

    From Physiological feelings (2019) · cites this paper as Heuer and Reisberg, 1990

    The Recall Data section (p. 501) reports better memory in the arousal group than the neutral group for both central and peripheral material. But the paper studies emotional arousal, not acute stress, and its discussion (Memory for the Sentences) proposes enhanced encoding rather than establishing that stress promotes memory consolidation. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. LOFTUS, E. F. (1979). Eyewitness testimony. Cambridge, MA: Har- vard University Press.
  2. LOFTUS, E. F. (1982). Remembering recent experiences. In L. Cer- mak (Ed.), HUTTUln memory and amnesia (pp. 239-255).
  3. Marks, D. (1972). Individualdifferences in the vividness of visual im- agery and their effect on function. In P. Sheehan (Ed.), Thefunction and nature of imagery (pp. 83-108). New York: Academic Press.

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Authors
Heuer, F., & Reisberg, D.
Affiliations
Reed College (US)
ORCID
Reisberg, Daniel
Venue
Memory & Cognition
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
1990-09
Volume
18
Issue
5
Pages
496-506
ISSN
  • 0090-502X (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-5946
DOI
10.3758/bf03198482
OpenAlex
W2089867299
Cited by
454
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 19
FWCI
2.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Memory & Cognition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
Keywords
emotional arousal, memory encoding, incidental learning, gist memory, attentional narrowing, memory accuracy
MeSH terms
Adult, Arousal, Association Learning, Attention, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Problem Solving, Mental Recall, Retention, Psychology

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