Do you remember? Similarities and differences between the earliest childhood memories for the five senses

Bibliographic Data

ID21602001
AuthorsFabian Hutmacher (0000-0002-0018-2559, University of Regensburg, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume29
Issue3
Pages345-352
Publication date2021-03-16
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMemory (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0965-8211 • E-ISSN: 1464-0686
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09658211.2021.1895222
PMID33686908
OpenAlexW3134525650
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited46

117) were asked to write down their earliest childhood memories for the five senses and to answer additional questions regarding these memories. There was no significant difference between the five senses regarding the percentage of participants reporting a memory or between the valence and the subjective reliability of the reported memories. However, memories reported for sight were marginally longer, from a younger age, and estimated to be more important compared to memories reported for the other senses. A qualitative content analysis revealed that the vast majority of the reported memories fell into a limited number of categories. Interestingly, several categories played a role in more than one sense. Nevertheless, the reported memories also mirrored the characteristic properties that one is able to perceive with each sense. Overall, the findings support the notion that sight is the dominant sense. At the same time, they remind us that each sense provides us with unique information about ourselves and the world around us

Childhood amnesia · Childhood memory · Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Episodic memory · Fell · Sight · Child and Animal Learning Development · Memory and Neural Mechanisms · Memory Processes and Influences · Psychology · Social Psychology

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