"What do you remember about Chernobyl?" A new test of memory for media-mediated events.

We devised a new test for assessing remote memory for media-mediated events, i.e. events that are reported by and known through the media. The test consists of a verbal questionnaire covering famous events that occurred over a long period of time, from 1976 to 2000, specifically designed for use with the Italian population. A free recall procedure was adopted which makes use of progressive cues. The test can be easily updated for inclusion of future events. Normative and test-retest reliability data are presented. The test provides a new tool for assessing media-mediated memory whenever an extensive assessment of retrograde memory performance is required, both in normal people and in brain-damaged patients.