Cohen G, Conway M A, Maylor E A
Human Cognition Research Laboratory, Open University, Milton Keynes, England.
Psychol Aging. 1994 Sep;9(3):454-63. doi: 10.1037//0882-7974.9.3.454.
In this study of age differences in flashbulb memory, groups of young and older adults gave detailed accounts of how they heard the news of the resignation of the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. They were tested within 14 days after the event and again 11 months later. They also gave ratings for the encoding variables (surprise, emotion, importance, knowledge, and interest) and for frequency of rehearsal. Memories that met a strict criterion of consistency between the original and delayed responses were classified as flashbulb memories. Although 90% of young Ss had flashbulb memories, only 42% of the elderly met the criterion. The age groups also differed in the type of details remembered and in the relationship between the encoding and rehearsal variables and the occurrence of flashbulb memory. The age-related deficit in flashbulb memory is related to source amnesia and to a deficit in memory for context.
在这项关于闪光灯记忆年龄差异的研究中，年轻组和老年组成员详细讲述了他们得知英国首相玛格丽特·撒切尔辞职消息时的情形。他们在事件发生后的14天内接受了测试，并在11个月后再次接受测试。他们还对编码变量（惊讶、情绪、重要性、知晓度和兴趣）以及复述频率进行了评分。符合原始反应与延迟反应之间严格一致性标准的记忆被归类为闪光灯记忆。虽然90%的年轻受试者有闪光灯记忆，但只有42%的老年人符合该标准。不同年龄组在记忆细节类型、编码和复述变量与闪光灯记忆发生之间的关系方面也存在差异。闪光灯记忆中与年龄相关的缺陷与来源遗忘以及情境记忆缺陷有关。
