The Soundtrack to Forever: Why a Few Notes Can Unlock a Lifetime of Memory

The power of music to elicit "vividness" in a memory is perhaps the most magical aspect of its nostalgic effect. When a piece is played, listeners often report a level of sensory detail—a visual image, a scent, a feeling—that is more lifelike than memories prompted by other stimuli. A song like The White Stripes' innocent acoustic ditty “We’re Going to Be Friends” can instantly take an adult back to the low-stakes worries and pure joy of elementary school, a perfect snapshot of a simple time.