Have you ever wondered why you remember so vividly that argument you had with your boss 3 months ago or the first time you kissed your husband or wife?
If yes, you may have thought that your memory for these events was vivid because they occurred when you were experiencing a strong emotion: anger or happiness.
And you were right! Emotionally charged events are usually much better remembered than less emotionally charged events.
But why would that be the case?
A study published this month seems to have the answer: a state of high emotion triggers the release of norepinephrine, a hormone that increases the activity of nerve cells. This results in unusually strong memory circuits in the brain.