Neisser conducted further research on flashbulb memories , aiming to clarify the manner in which memories are constructed . One study involved individuals ' recollections of the 1989 California earthquake . Using subjects in California , near the quake , and others in Atlanta , far from it , Neisser examined differences in the recollections of those who actually that experienced the event and those who simply heard about it . Neisser used surveys to collect data on the emotional impact of the earthquake and on individual memories of the earthquake to study possible associations between memory and emotion . In the spring of 1991 , Neisser contacted participants to compare their current accounts of the earthquake with their previous accounts . He found that , in comparison to participants in Atlanta , the California students generally had more accurate recollections of the earthquake
1989 California earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Ulric Neisser