The paper leads to an interesting conclusion : if myths and folktales are better remembered than other stories and can survive for generations, it may be because they are often emotionally-charged (with dramatic effects, appropriate body language, gestures and facial expressions...), which leads to subsequent release of norepinephrine in the brain and enhances the memorisation of such tales. I have tried to explore the idea in a recent peer-reviewed paper, "Rôle de l'émotion dans la mémorisation des contes et des mythes" Mythologie française, 253, 2013, 21-23 (in french, available on my website: https://www.academia.edu/5530148/Role_de_lemotion_dans_la_memorisation_des_contes_et_des_mythes._-_Mythologie_Francaise_253_2013_21-23).
Molecular Brain
How neurobiology could explain mythology.
10 November 2014
The paper leads to an interesting conclusion : if myths and folktales are better remembered than other stories and can survive for generations, it may be because they are often emotionally-charged (with dramatic effects, appropriate body language, gestures and facial expressions...), which leads to subsequent release of norepinephrine in the brain and enhances the memorisation of such tales.
I have tried to explore the idea in a recent peer-reviewed paper, "Rôle de l'émotion dans la mémorisation des contes et des mythes" Mythologie française, 253, 2013, 21-23 (in french, available on my website: https://www.academia.edu/5530148/Role_de_lemotion_dans_la_memorisation_des_contes_et_des_mythes._-_Mythologie_Francaise_253_2013_21-23).
Competing interests
No competing interests.