The Theory 

Why Music from Teen Years is So Effective

Reminiscence Bump - A Psychological Phenomenon 

Memories are forever entwined with the music they listened to during those times of their life. 

We attach music to particularly emotional times, exciting, new experiences, new feelings, first kiss, first dance, first car,  first time away from home.

Scientific studies show we remember more from our adolescence and early twenties than any other period of our lives.

One theory for why this happens is that our minds undergo an intense and rapid phase of development during our teenage years and early twenties so our budding brains and memory systems are at their peak absorbing as much information about the world as they can.

The music we listen to during this period has greater lasting impact than songs in later life because of a psychological phenomenon called the reminiscence bump.

Prof Loveday explained that listening to our favourite music has a fundamental effect on the brain; there’s a surge of activity in the reward pathways that increases the levels of dopamine and oxytocin in our brains - the same pathways that are triggered when we do anything pleasurable such as eating, drinking or dancing. “There is evidence that structural elements of music get physically tied to our autobiographical memories” she said.

It’s not necessarily when the music was released that is relevant but rather the time frame during which the music was important to an individual.

Musical reminiscence bump is so powerful because we attach music to particularly emotional times.

We have fewer memories from birth to about eight-years-old, while at the other end of the scale our minds can easily recall memories that happened most recently, although this does decline with age.

However, researchers have found there is a key age between the ages of 10 to 30-years-old when the reminiscence bump applies, meaning our memories have a particular affinity for recalling events.

It stirs powerful emotions and feelings, recalling vivid memories.

It defines who we are, creates precious bonds and friendships, makes us feel better.

Music’s powerful ability to connect us with the people, places and moments that make us who we are.