Final answer:
An exceptionally clear recollection of an important event is referred to as a flashbulb memory. These vivid memories often relate to where someone was during significant public or personal events and are associated with strong emotional reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
An exceptionally clear recollection of an important event is known as a flashbulb memory. These memories are typically so vivid that people remember even minute details related to where they were and what they were doing when they first became aware of the event. Notable examples of flashbulb memories include where individuals were during significant national or global events, similar to how nearly everyone who was old enough at the time of the 9/11 attacks remembers where they were when they heard the news.
Flashbulb memories can be the result of personal or public events and are noted for their clarity and detail due to the strong emotional reactions associated with them. This phenomenon can be linked to the arousal theory, which posits that strong emotions can trigger the release of neurotransmitters and hormones that strengthen the memory of that event, making it more likely to be remembered than non-emotional events.