[Christmas article: Flaming heart syndrome: Shared false memories in Danish popular culture]

Collective false memories - the »Mandela effect« - are well-described in international popular culture. However, equivalent phenomena within a Danish context have not previously been demonstrated. This study examined whether a specific misremembered cinematic detail from the 1986 Danish movie, »Flamberede hjerter«, constitutes a shared false memory.

We conducted a questionnaire survey among staff at the Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. Participants who confirmed having seen »Flamberede hjerter« were asked to recall which medium supported the sausages in a well-known dinner scene. Free-text responses were categorised, and the proportion of »mashed potatoes« responses was analysed using a binomial test against a 50/50 expected distribution.

Twenty participants were included. None recalled the correct answer (»fettuccine«). Fifteen (75.0%) answered »mashed potatoes«, four (20.0%) »spaghetti«, and one (5.0%) »meatball«. The proportion of »mashed potato« responses was significantly higher than the null expectation (p = 0.041), indicating strong convergence around a single erroneous memory.

All participants misremembered the scene, and »mashed potatoes« emerged as the dominant false recollection. This supports the existence of a culturally shared false memory in a Danish context. Accordingly, we suggest that this effect be referred to as flaming heart Syndrome.

No external funding was received.

Not applicable.