Have you ever noticed that certain smells can bring back a flood of memories. Today I opened up a new stick of deodorant (sexy, huh?) and a I felt a rush of memories from my time in Jamaica. I thought of my friends, the kids, my teachers, our living quarters, the food we ate, the conversations we had, the days at camp....all of it was so strong and tangible all of the sudden. I always knew that there is a scientific connection between smell and memory but I couldn't explain it to you if I tried so...off to the Internets for some research!
"Because the olfactory bulb is part of the brain's limbic system, an area so closely associated with memory and feeling it's sometimes called the "emotional brain," smell can call up memories and powerful responses almost instantaneously....Because we encounter most new odors in our youth, smells often call up childhood memories. But we actually begin making associations between smell and emotion before we're even born. Infants who were exposed to alcohol, cigarette smoke or garlic in the womb show a preference for the smells. To them, the smells that might upset other babies seem normal or even comforting."
Thanks to howstuffworks.com!
"Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhoold summer beside a lake in the mountains..."
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