Why our teenage memories are the ones we recall best

MANY of us look back fondly on our teenage years – in particular the books, music and films we grew up with.

Now scientists think they have figured out why early influences make such an impact.

A study has suggested that the teenage brain is more sensitive and therefore better at absorbing new memories.

However, this also means adolescent brains could be more adversely affected by stress than older minds, the researchers warned.

In a review of previous studies, University College London (UCL) neuroscientists found that adults were able to better recall memories from their teenage years than from any other time in their lives. Specifically, participants aged 35 and above could remember events that happened between the ages of ten and 30 more clearly than those before or after. Of all these experiences, those from adolescence were easiest to remember.

However the study, published yesterday in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, suggested that while teenage minds are best at creating memories, they are also more susceptible to the adverse effects of stress, meaning mental health could suffer.

Delia Fuhrmann, a neuroscience PhD student at UCL, said: ‘Adolescents are slower to forget frightening or negative memories. This might mean that some treatments for anxiety disorders, which are based on controlled exposure to whatever a patient is afraid of, might be less effective in adolescents.’