title: The reminiscence bump in older adults' life story transitions.
abstract: Older adults' memories of events that occurred in adolescence and early adulthood are over-represented compared to other lifetime periods. Prior research on this reminiscence bump has focused on qualities of individual memories. The present study used a novel interview method to examine the potential role played by mental representations of extended lifetime periods. Older adults provided oral life stories, and they divided their transcribed narratives into "chapters". Participants' ages at chapter beginnings and endings showed pronounced reminiscence bumps. The results are consistent with the idea that personal episodes occurring near the boundaries of extended lifetime periods receive preferential processing that enhances long-term memory.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of New Hampshire , Durham , NH , USA.
authors.forename: Kristina L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Pillemer
authors.forename: Dorthe Kirkegaard
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Minigan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aging; Autobiographical memory; Event boundaries; Life narratives; Reminiscence bump