30/10/2025
A global study reveals that our most emotionally resonant music tends to come from our teenage years—typically peaking around age 17. This “reminiscence bump” marks the period when our developing brains most strongly imprint musical memories that help form identity.
The research also found gender differences: men’s music memories peaked earlier, while women’s formed later and evolved more flexibly over time. Surprisingly, younger generations are now forming deep emotional ties to songs from decades before they were born, creating a cross-generational “cascading reminiscence bump.”
A global study reveals that our most emotionally resonant music tends to come from our teenage years—typically peaking around age 17.