Reminiscence bump

Biological Parallel

Enhanced memory for identity-formation periods appears across species with complex development. Salmon imprint on natal stream chemistry during a 2-4 week juvenile window—these olfactory memories, encoded during developmental transition, guide migration years later with 95% accuracy. Songbirds crystallize their species' song during a sensitive period; songs learned outside this window are poorly retained. Wolves and dogs show strongest behavioral imprinting during weeks 3-12, creating lifelong attachment patterns. In humans, ages 15-25 represent analogous identity crystallization: autobiographical memories from this period are recalled 3x more frequently than statistically expected. The pattern converges: organisms invest disproportionately in encoding information during periods that establish 'who I am'—these foundational memories predict lifelong behavioral patterns and receive permanent storage priority.