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Comment by jonheller | Hacker News Reader

Extremely disturbing.

This was well written and very interesting to read, but I do wonder how one could recall the details so specifically?

Traumatic events can leave much stronger memories, almost like they're burned in.

Exactly. Even a couple of nights ago, I had a dream about going through airport security on my return trip (even though I returned over a week and a half ago, with no problem).

That makes sense. Most of my traumatic memories have been of events that have literally lasted a few seconds, but I can see how the same effect could happen for a longer one.

Guess I should count myself lucky I don't have those!

Yes, they're called flashbulb memories and they feel 'stronger' and more detailed than other memories. People assume that they're therefore accurate, but really, they're no more accurate than other memories.

In fact, the repeated recall can cause them to become distorted over time.

If you want to preserve a memory, write it down immediately while it is fresh. Don't trust that an old memory is accurate.

Wikipedia says the difference between flashbulb memories and traumatic memories is stress, and that there is "a shortage on studies regarding personal events such as accidents or trauma".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashbulb_memory#Flashbulb_mem...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashbulb_memory#Critique_of_f...

Memory is a funny thing. You don't recall a snap shot of all the details at once. You start telling a story and during the playback of the memories you'll be able to recall deep details.

Reading On Intelligence really solidified my thoughts on how memory (probably) works.

http://www.amazon.com/On-Intelligence-Jeff-Hawkins/dp/080507...

Well, as court witnesses often show, you start telling a story and you fill in deep details. Sometimes from memory, sometimes from thin air.

Very good counterpoint. I completely agree. I did say it was a funny thing.

If you were in a similar situation, would you not try to mentally note as many details as possible? Especially if something came of it, you would want to remember as much as possible about the cops who interrogated you, what they asked, etc.

he probably told this story many other times before

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