The Latest Breaking News from Memory

IN FOCUS: As scientists say we should try to ‘rehabilitate’ music that conjures up painful memories, Helen Coffey agrees that coming face to face with the past can be the ultimate way to take our power back

As school returns, parents and teachers might each be faced with the familiar chorus of “I can’t find my school jumper” and “I left my hat at home”. For parents of older kids, the stakes may be even higher: lost mobile phones or laptops left on the bus.

A new study suggests that recalling the context in which a memory was made can help to restore the memory after it has started to erode.

Ask someone about their favorite childhood memory, and you’ll likely hear a story filled with warmth, joy, or adventure. We cherish these moments as pure, happy snapshots of our past. However, therapists often see a deeper layer to these stories. That one, specific memory you hold onto so tightly might…