 Scientists
at the University of Leeds are asking people to blog their
memories of the Beatles to create the biggest database of
“autobiographical memories” ever attempted.
The online survey, devised by psychologists Professor Martin
Conway and Dr Catriona Morrison from the Leeds Memory Group,
aims to enhance our understanding of human memory by uncovering
the role The Beatles and their music play in our personal
histories.
Psychologists know that certain cues are successful at
triggering the recollection of events from our lives – our
“autobiographical memories”. Music in particular has a strong
emotive and recollective power in relation to our long-term
memory.
As global pop icons, the impact of the life, times and music of
The Beatles spans different generations countries and cultures.
Whilst the majority of memory studies look at ‘flash-bulb’
events such as the shuttle disaster this will be the first time
psychologists have attempted to gather a huge database of
memories by tapping into the unique global influence The Beatles
have in shaping our personal identities.
The results will help them further understand how children
develop a capacity for memory, how adults process memory and how
memory changes in older adulthood.
The survey is aimed at anyone, anywhere who has a memory
relating to the Beatles (you don’t have to be a fan to get
involved!). Participants should think about the first thing that
comes to mind from their life that is related to the Beatles. It
may be a very vivid memory relating to a particular album, song,
news story - or even band member.
At
www.magicalmemorytour.com
participants will have the opportunity to input their own
memories and explore other people’s. They can find out which
albums evoke the most memories; which songs evoke positive or
negative memories; which news events are most vividly
remembered.
 Launched
in partnership with the BA as part of National Science and
Engineering Week (7-16 March), and during Brain Awareness Week
(6-10 March), results from the survey will be launched at the BA
Festival of Science (6 – 11 September) in Liverpool.
Martin Conway says “one of the things we hope to analyse is
which Beatles’ cues trigger the most memories, and why. Is it a
song, album, or news event? And does this very vivid memory
depend upon the age you were when the memory event occurred, or
is it more closely related to how strongly you feel about the
Beatles or the memory itself?”
Sue Hordijenko, Director of Programmes at the BA, says “we are
thrilled that Liverpool is to host our annual Festival of
Science this September and as a celebration of the City’s status
as European Capital of Culture we want everyone who has a memory
to share about the Beatles to log on to the Magical Memory Tour
website and play their part in creating a scientific legacy of
how human memory relates to Liverpool’s most famous sons”.
National Science and Engineering Week is coordinated by the BA
in partnership with the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB),
and funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and
Skills (DIUS).
This year’s BA Festival of Science is organised in partnership
with the University of Liverpool and the Greater Merseyside
SETPOINT. It is supported by the Department for Innovation,
Universities & Skills, the Liverpool Culture Company and the
Northwest Regional Development Agency.
Magical Memory Tour is specifically supported by the Dana
Alliance for Brain Initiatives and the Economic and Social
Sciences Research Council (ESRC) along with the Beatles Story. |
