Final answer:
Flashbulb memories are highly detailed, emotionally charged recollections of significant events, enhanced by strong emotions and hormonal activity which lead to robust memory consolidation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Flashbulb memories are vivid and detailed recollections of emotionally significant events that people often remember with greater accuracy than day-to-day happenings. For example, the events of 9/11 are frequently cited as an instance where many retain a clear memory of how they first heard the news. This phenomenon underscores the impact of strong emotions in triggering robust memories, a concept closely related to the arousal theory. High emotional arousal at the time of an event increases neurotransmitter activity and hormone levels, which, in turn, enhances memory consolidation, thereby making these memories more resilient over time.
Emotionally charged events activate the release of neurotransmitters like glutamate and hormones which play a crucial role in how memories are stored. While episodic memories, or autobiographical memories, tend to fade unless they are connected to significant personal experiences. Flashbulb memories are so impactful that they can be recollected with a sense of reliving the experience, including emotions and sensory details, irrespective of whether the events are positive or negative.