Blog #4
Studies have shown that memories are
associated with certain smells, and even some sounds and music. The brain forms
a connection to the scent or the specific song with what is happening and what
emotions are being experiences at the time the senses are being stimulated.
However, one thing that I would be interested in researching is how exactly
this happens, and how does it relate to the memories I have related to books that
I have read. I do not mean remembering what the plot line was in certain
novels, but what part of the brain builds the association to events that I have
with certain books. Is this the same part of the brain that connects smells and
music to memories?
Whenever I think of the childhood
cabin, I think of two specific books: The Bridge to Terabithia and the Amelia
Bedilia series books. I have a very specific memory of myself reading The
Bridge to Terabithia in the loft of my cabin. When I reached the ending, I
began crying, and my mom immediately blamed my older sister for picking a fight
with me, even though the tears had nothing to do with my sister. With this
specific memory present, I understand the reason of why I associate my cabin with
the novel; however, this is not the case with the Amelia Bedilia
series. Never (in my recollection) can I
remember a time where I read these childhood books anywhere near my cabin. This
creates more curiosity of why the association exists.
I believe there is a power within
books to tap into emotions so deeply that connections are made. There was once
an article which stated that "memories are only made when intense emotion
is felt." With my very limited knowledge of the brain, my simple guess
would be that books cause the reader to feel an emotion, and the brain takes in
the surroundings of the event and stores it into long term memory. This is a simplistic
guess for a complicated inquiry, and I would be interested in learning the
mechanics of how books become associated with certain memories.
First I just want to say that I loved Amelia Bedilia and Bridge to Terabithia when I was a kid too. So that's awesome. Second of all I think you explore a really interesting idea here with association. I definitely get the same thing. I'll pick up a book that I have read before and immediately think about the last time in my life that I read it. It can bring back huge emotions. Even just one sentence that I really connected with at that point in my life, that I could have forgotten about until I just re read it at that moment. The same thing happens to me with certain songs as well. I can hear the opening chords and it can immediately take me back to a different time in my life. Good or bad. I just think its really cool that you brought this topic up.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Hanna! I've always thought it was interesting how certain stimuli cause you to think of certain memories, often memories that you didn't know you had. I've noticed this happen with everything from songs, movies, even walking into restaurants and recalling the seat you were in the last time you came there. I have probably just as much (read: minimal) knowledge of the brain as you do, but I think you're on to something with the role of emotions on memories; it's rare to feel truly strong emotions like those brought on by certain books, and I think we're naturally inclined to remember those odd moments just by virtue of the fact that they're so unusually influential.
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