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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 August 2014
The phenomenon of the so-called first memory has been studied in a sample of 350 pupils of an elementary school, 98 female university students, and 68 twin pairs of different age and zygosity.
In the average, the first memory refers to the 3rd-4th year of life, with a tendency to move forwards in relation to the age of the subject. This may be interpreted in terms of an unconscious selection operated by the memory, preferring more detailed memories and therefore producing the loss of undetermined and vague ones. Moreover, an unconscious tendency is also shown towards the recollection of pleasant memories. The first memory may be considered as a particular example of long-term memory.
The twin study shows that the hereditary conditioning of the phenomenon corresponds to 47%.