Tunnel memories for autobiographical events: central details are remembered more frequently from shocking than from happy experiences.

Full Abstract

In three experiments, undergraduates recorded as many details as possible for autobiographical memories of highly positive and highly negative events in their lives. Experiment 1 replicated earlier findings for memories of highly negative events:
Central details were recorded more frequently than peripheral details, and a weak correlation was found between emotional intensity and number of central details. In Experiment 2, undergraduates recorded details of memories of both their happiest and their most shocking events. Central details dominated over peripheral details only in memories of shocking events. This finding was replicated in Experiment 3. Recording memory details affected the participants' moods and generated a mood congruence effect in a subsequent recall of word-cued memories. The finding suggest that tunnel memories--enhanced memory for the central details of an event--are limited to emotionally negative memories. The findings contradict expectations derived from the notion of repression.

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Author information

Author/s: Berntsen, Dorthe (D);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Aarhus, Risskov, Denmark. dorthe(-atsign-)psy.au.dk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Memory & cognition (Mem Cognit), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Oct; vol 30 (issue 7) : pp 1010-20

Dates: Created 2002/12/31; Completed 2003/02/12; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12507366, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Affect
Autobiography
Fear
Female

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