What we remember when we remember 9/11

A memory researcher marking 25 years since September 11 explains that so-called flashbulb memories, the vivid recall people have of learning about a shocking event, are less about the event itself and more about the mundane moment of hearing the news. Research shows these memories feel extremely confident and detailed even as their accuracy erodes over time, at rates similar to ordinary memories.

The piece notes that sharing these memories functions as a social act, reinforcing group identity and patriotism as much as recording fact. As direct witnesses age, the memory passed down becomes second-hand, more about meaning than accuracy.

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