AMES, Iowa ( Iowa Capital Dispatch ) - An Iowa State University professor’s research, born from tragedies witnessed during Hurricane Katrina, has opened up possibilities as to how the mind captures and stores memories of trauma, especially at a young age.

Carl Weems, an ISU professor of human development and family studies, has published a report detailing a new developmental theory relating to traumatic childhood memories. It states that just because someone’s reporting on a traumatic event might change over time, it doesn’t mean the memories themselves are false.

“I think the model kind of opens up our point of view to really try to dig at it,” Weems said.

Studying tragedy and trauma

Weems has spent his career studying emotional development, traumatic stress and the relationship be

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