Each time we remember something, our brain slightly changes the details. Research shows that after one year, people change about 40 percent of the details in their flashbulb memories.

Strong emotions affect how the brain stores memories. Feeling intense emotions can make a memory feel clear, but it does not stop mistakes. For example, President George W. Bush misremembered how he first heard about the 9/11 plane crash.

Understanding that flashbulb memories are rebuilt each time we recall them helps us see why confident recollections may still be inaccurate. It reminds us to check facts even for events we remember very clearly.