The songs we listen to during our youth often become lifelong favorites. This is because they are tied to our memories at significant moments in our lives.
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(Image: iStockphoto) |
The significant moments are referred to as the “reminiscence bump,” according to Steve Janssen, a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Janssen presented his research on how memories are formed at the 4th International Memory Conference held in Sydney, Australia, this week.
He explained that this reminiscence bump can partly be attributed to our ability to store events better during the early stages of adulthood.
“You will remember more events during the ages of 10 to 25, with the reminiscence bump peaking between 16 and 20,” Janssen said. “The brain works optimally at that time. It’s like a sponge, soaking up everything.” We also learn languages and musical instruments best during this period.
However, our ability to remember songs from our childhood is not solely linked to the reminiscence bump. We tend to form personal connections with certain songs from our teenage years because we often listen to them repeatedly.
Janssen found that when participants were asked to rate their three favorite songs, movies, and books, they primarily chose genres they were exposed to during the ages of 16 to 21.
Movies and books are often selected from more recent times. This is because we typically engage with books and films only a few times, whereas songs are experienced many more times, Janssen explained.
M.T
