So if you hit your head on a bookshelf, would watching a “Happy Days” marathon help?
Maybe.
According to a new study, remembering old times can actually be good for your health.
This study comes from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.
The researchers applied a light amount of heat to a participant’s skin.
And while this was happening, some of the participants were shown images from a time when they would have been children, like old toys, cartoons, snacks.
The people who were shown these nostalgic images reported their physical discomfort from the heat as less severe than the ones who saw images of modern-day candy, toys and cartoons.
The findings matched what previous studies had found, both in healthy people and in those who had chronic pain.
It’s probably no surprise that nostalgia can make people feel good.
It explains why every other movie or TV show is a reboot of an existing one, or why those package tours of like six groups from the 80s are such a big hit.
But how does remembering happy times from the past affect our response to pain?
The study looked at that too.
They put MRI headsets on the participants, and In the people who saw images from their childhood, there was less brain activity in several areas that may be part of processing pain.
And they also noticed more activity in parts of the brain that are believed to help us regulate our pain response.
All that said, we still have a lot to learn about what the brain is doing in these situations.
And it’s worth remembering that the researchers were administering only a slightly uncomfortable sensation rather than hurting their subjects.
They’re not saying that if you break your own, just put on some good reruns until you can get a cast.
But it’s fair to say a walk down memory lane every so often… wouldn’t hurt.
If you’re a gamer, you know there are lots of simulation games out there – but The Awesomer just pointed us toward something really unique.
It’s called Lushfoil Photography Sim, and the player travels through extremely detailed and extremely scenic environments, then chooses from a range of very fancy and high-end photography gear to take the perfect simulated photo.
The demos so far show countrysides, mountain views, even tall grasses swaying the breeze like in real life.
I’m Brady, so why don’t you take a picture, it’ll last longer! Thanks etc
Scientists find a surprising connection between nostalgia and pain relief (Inverse)
Super-Realistic Grass (The Awesomer)
