Transient Amnesia Phenomenon leaves many people with no memory of concerts or important events they have long anticipated.
“If I had to describe the feeling after watching the Taylor Swift concert, I can only say that I forgot everything, as if it had never happened,” Guenaëlle, 22, shared after returning from La Défense Arena in Paris on May 9.
To get her hands on a ticket for the event, she had waited nearly a year. However, when the event took place, Guenaëlle couldn’t remember the sequence of songs, the colors of Taylor’s outfits, or any of the dance routines.
“On the other hand, I remember every detail on the way to and back from the hotel,” she explained.
Guenaëlle is not the first person to have this strange experience. Many music fans share that they “felt hypnotized and had their memories stolen” after attending a concert of their favorite artists—an event they had been waiting for months, or even years.
“Many of my clients attended Taylor’s concert in New Jersey. The very next day, they didn’t remember anything, as if there were gaps in their brains. I believe this phenomenon can be explained scientifically,” Nathan Carrollary, a psychiatrist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, stated.
He explained that this is a “transient global amnesia” (TGA), characterized by short-term memory loss. This phenomenon occurs when the human brain experiences extreme sensations such as excessive excitement, stress, or fear, affecting the ability to encode memories.
“Our memory is extremely sensitive to stress, whether it comes from positive or negative experiences,” Carrollary emphasized.
Taylor Swift performing in Tokyo, Japan, on February 7. (Photo: Reuters).
Increased Adrenaline and Cortisol
According to a study of 200 volunteers published in the journal of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, the transient amnesia syndrome is more common in individuals aged 50 to 80. Yann Humeau, a researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research, Institute of Neuroscience (IINS), indicated that this phenomenon is similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The intensity of memory, overload in the amygdala, and the mechanisms involved in encoding emotional memories share similarities.
The increase in adrenaline (a hormone produced during fear, anger, or excitement) and cortisol (the stress hormone) contributes to this phenomenon. Over the past 20 years, research on memory loss after trauma has often focused on the hippocampus—a brain area particularly related to stress.
In fact, transient amnesia is quite common. Carrollary noted that musical performances are not the only events that can affect memory. Sporting events, weddings, graduations, or any moment that easily creates excitement, pressure, fear, or stress can lead to this condition.
“You will experience it many times in your life,” Carrollary said.
According to Robert N. Kraft, a Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Otterbein University in Ohio, moderately enjoyable events create memories that become overarching recollections. However, as feelings of excitement increase, focus narrows, and people remember fewer details and contexts.
“Living in the Moment”
Each person’s experience of amnesia after attending a concert varies. Those with anxiety or depression are more likely to experience it than others. Guenaëlle is an example. She has struggled with anxiety disorders since childhood, “barely sleeping for 4 or 5 nights before the concert.” According to Humeau, sleep plays “a fundamental role in consolidating information that can be encoded.” However, excitement can disrupt this encoding process.
Those who forget significant moments they have long awaited often feel guilty afterward.
“I feel extremely guilty because I don’t understand why I can’t remember anything about the concert, as if I didn’t enjoy it enough,” Guenaëlle said.
However, Professor Kraft explained that having difficulty remembering means the brain has fully recorded the diverse emotions at the moment of experience.
“Not remembering the concert is actually proof that you lived completely in the moment and truly enjoyed that experience,” Kraft stated.
