Ultimately over the years, four models of flashbulb memories have emerged to explain the phenomenon: the photographic model, the comprehensive model, the emotional-integrative model, and importance-driven model; additionally studies have been conducted to test the validity of these models.
Seetõttu on aastate jooksul tekkinud neli mälusähvatuste nähtust selgitavat mudelit: terviklik mudel, emotsionaalne-integratiivne mudel ja olulisusest ajendatud mudel; lisaks on tehtud uuringuid nende mudelite valiidsuse testimiseks.