Memory and Mood

Mood Congruent Memory


You may not be familiar with this term. Mood congruent memory explains why there is a cascade of similar memories when you are feeling disappointment or sadness. Memory retention appears to be enhanced when emotional stimuli are present. Neuro-chemical activity seems to increase the efficiency of the brain areas responsible for encoding memories unless the flood of neurotransmitters is extreme. In the case of trauma, memory may be mercifully impaired.

I am sharing this because it explains why you are flooded with sad memories when you are depressed or fearful memories when you are afraid. It is the condition that makes us think in great generalities like: my life has always been awful or the entire world is a scary place. It is something that, if recognized, could give us a clue to some answers.

What got me thinking about this is something that just occurred last night. I had written the story of my cancer surgery and my memories of the hospital. If you read it, you might have noticed that being in the hospital and the stresses involved in that triggered the memory (for both me and for my kids) of being there when my grandmother was dying. Here is an update. Last night as I wrote a follow up story about that time in the hospital, I was also motivated to make a batch of soup that I have not had in years- a kind of scotch broth that my grandmother used to make and my mother never made. I have not had it since I was about ten years old- decades ago- but I suddenly had a craving for it. It is the taste of my grandmother’s house- an environment of contentment and belonging.

You may think that the memory was triggered by sadness but in fact, the memory of the soup came out of a feeling of goodness and comfort. What I remember of my time in the hospital is most informed by the kindness that I experienced and the gratitude for profound awareness of others that I received at that time.

I intend this site to be anything but Polyanna-ish. Putting bandaids on wounds is not my intent. I aspire to something far better for all of us. However, the facts say that changing what you can to alter your mood helps you to climb to higher – happier ground. So follow Connie Rae Bailey’s advice and put your old records on and see if it makes a difference.




PS: I cannot resist sharing one more insight on memory- a joke on me- as I looked for this music video- it took a while because I thought it was Lily Allen! So much for the perfect accuracy of memory!