Relationship of Sensory Modality to Retention of Episodic Memory

Jeri Morris1, Craig Woodworth, Amy Swier-Vosnos

  • 1a Psychology Department , Roosevelt University , Chicago , Illinois.

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Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...
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