Neural mechanisms that bridge nostalgic memory remembering and positive future thinking

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K17957
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Oba Kentaro 東北大学, 加齢医学研究所, 助教 (90612010)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 懐かしさ / 楽観性 / fMRI

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In recent years, autobiographical memories accompanying "nostalgia" have been shown to increase optimism after brief recollection. However, the mechanism of why recollection of the past can influence future thinking has not been elucidated. In this study, brain activity during a reminiscence task was measured in young healthy subjects using functional MRI. As a result of recollection of nostalgic memories, a significant increase in optimism was observed, as in the previous study. The amount of change was correlated with the degree of nostalgic memory recall, indicating that there were individual differences in the change in optimism. Furthermore, the results of brain activity analysis indicated that the change in optimism induced by recollection was associated with activity in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex.

Free Research Field

社会神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

懐かしさが心理的にポジティブな効果を有することを報告する心理学的研究は多いが、なぜそのような効果が得られるかという点についてはこれまでほとんど検討されてこなかった。本研究ではこの問いについて効果の個人差と脳機能イメージングを組み合わせることで取り組んだ。楽観性に関しては背内側前頭前皮質の活動量との関連が示唆され、神経科学的にも効果の個人差を説明できる可能性が示された。