비슷한 시기에 발생한 노무현대통령서거 사건과 북한의 2차 핵실험 사건에 대한 노인과 젊은이들의 사건 발생 1주후, 3개월 후, 6개월 후의 섬광기억을 조사해서 연령에 따라 정서경험이 섬광기억에 어떤 영향을 미치는지 조사했다. 깜짝 놀랄만한 국가적인 사건들에 대한 노인의 주관적인 정서경험이 시간에 따라 어떻게 변화하는지와, 정서가 노화에 의해 감퇴된 인지기능에 어떤 영향을 미치는지 알아보았다. 두 사건 모두에서 노인들이 젊은이에 비해 더 강한 정서경험을 보고했으며, 북한의 2차 핵실험사건보다 노무현대통령 서거 사건에서 더 큰 정서적 충격을 받았다고 보고했다. 노무현 대통령서거에 대한 노인의 정서반응강도가 시간이 지나도 젊은이에 비해 높은 수준으로 유지된 결과는 노인의 정서체계가 노화에도 불구하고 비교적 유지되고 있음을 보여준다. 노인들은 젊은이들과 비슷한 정도의 섬광기억을 보였으며, 시간이 지나도 이 패턴이 유지되었다. 노무현대통령 서거에 대한 섬광기억은 3개월 후 조사에서는 감소했지만, 그 6개월 후 조사에서는 일정하게 유지되었다. 이는 강력한 정서경험이 노화에 의해 감퇴된 기억역량을 보완했을 가능성을 시사한다. 끝으로, 노무현 대통령 서거사건에 대해 섬광기억 특징으로 알려진 생생함, 확신정도변화에 대한 연령차를 알아보았다. 섬광기억에 대한 젊은이들의 확신정도는 시간이 지남에 따라 낮아진 반면, 노인들은 확신 정도가 유지됨을 보였다. 시간경과에 따른 섬광사건 상황에 대한 생생함 정도는 젊은이와 노인 모두 감소했다.
Memories and emotional responses were collected from Korean young and elderly people one week, three months, and six months after Korean President Roh's sudden death and North Korea nuclear test that occurred at about the same time. President Roh's death had greater emotional impact than North Korea's nuclear test for both young and elderly people. The latter group experienced more intense emotions to both events and still had lingering emotions about President Roh's death six months later. However, the two groups showed no difference in recall of episodic details about the two events, while both groups recalled more about President Roh's death. Flashbulb memories of President Roh's death decreased at first but not after three months, whereas flashbulb memories of North Korea nuclear test decreased steadily as time passed. These results show that emotional intensity is a critical factor in flashbulb memory and emotional functions of elderly people are not weakened. Although elderly people had experienced decline in cognitive functions, they recalled episodic details of the flashbulb events not less than young people. This result indicates that relatively well-functioning emotional processes could complement cognitive weakness related to old age. Changes of vividness, confidence, emotional and visceral reactions are also surveyed. Some results conflicting with previous studies on flashbulb memory were also discussed.
Memories and emotional responses were collected from Korean young and elderly people one week, three months, and six months after Korean President Roh's sudden death and North Korea nuclear test that occurred at about the same time. President Roh's death had greater emotional impact than North Korea's nuclear test for both young and elderly people. The latter group experienced more intense emotions to both events and still had lingering emotions about President Roh's death six months later. However, the two groups showed no difference in recall of episodic details about the two events, while both groups recalled more about President Roh's death. Flashbulb memories of President Roh's death decreased at first but not after three months, whereas flashbulb memories of North Korea nuclear test decreased steadily as time passed. These results show that emotional intensity is a critical factor in flashbulb memory and emotional functions of elderly people are not weakened. Although elderly people had experienced decline in cognitive functions, they recalled episodic details of the flashbulb events not less than young people. This result indicates that relatively well-functioning emotional processes could complement cognitive weakness related to old age. Changes of vividness, confidence, emotional and visceral reactions are also surveyed. Some results conflicting with previous studies on flashbulb memory were also discussed.