Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Childhood memories are recollections of experiences, events, and emotions from a person's early years. They can have a strong emotional impact and often shape an individual's identity.
Related terms
Emotional Association: The connection between an emotion and a specific memory. For example, the smell of freshly baked cookies may evoke feelings of warmth and comfort associated with childhood.
Sensory Triggers: Stimuli such as smells, tastes, or sounds that activate specific memories. Just like how certain keys fit into specific locks, sensory triggers unlock hidden memories stored deep within our minds.
The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This process plays a role in encoding and retrieving childhood memories.