Why I’m Leaning into Nostalgia This Summer (According to Neuroscience)
Welcome to the debut of Soma & Prose—a curated space exploring the intersection of our physical bodies (soma) and the stories we tell ourselves (prose). Written by an English/Pre-med student, this archive bridges the gap between hard molecular science and holistic lifestyle design
This week, I was deep in the pits of finals burnout.
My second semester of sophomore year has just ended, and after barely surviving my Behavioral Neuroscience class, I found myself thinking about random things that bring me joy. As we defined in my lectures:
“Emotions are neurobiological states caused by the internal and external environment.”
Some emotions feel much more complex than the basic ones we learn to name as children—like sadness, anger, and happiness. Every emotion is a fluctuating state of being, and what is crazy is that they change like waves.
But nostalgia? The feeling of nostalgia evokes an indescribable state that is rare to feel. As an adult, I find myself less likely to indulge in childhood joy. Lately, I have been going through a personal journey of searching for what it means to actually feel nostalgic.
Am I feeling true nostalgia, or am I feeling what comes with remembering niche experiences that happened so long ago?
When the Fuzzy Walls Become Real
Silly Bandz and Polly Pockets were merely plastic objects sold to make money. But I don’t see them as that. I see them as something that makes my vague childhood memories feel real.
Deep down, I know those years happened. But when I try to remember myself as a three-year-old at summer camp, the walls feel completely fuzzy. I can’t remember the details of what we did day in and day out until the summer ended. Yet, remembering the physical objects we played with makes the rest of the memories so clear.
From Malady to Medicine: What the Research Says
Early research actually viewed nostalgia as a psychological dysfunction. In the 17th and 18th centuries, doctors considered it a neurological disease or a form of melancholy closely linked to depression.
Today, the clinical view has completely flipped. Modern developmental professionals agree that unstructured play is a core fragment of childhood development. When we interact with toys from our youth, our brains engage in a unique form of retrieval.
Functional brain imaging shows that nostalgia lights up the hippocampus (the brain’s memory hub) right alongside the ventral striatum and medial prefrontal cortex (the brain’s reward system). When the present external environment feels chaotic—like the high-cortisol environment of college finals—your brain triggers nostalgia as a chemical stabilizer. It releases a rush of dopamine to counter psychological distress
The Fine Line Between Comfort and Regression
Walt Disney, the ultimate architect of modern wonder, once said:
“I love the nostalgia myself. I hope we never lose some of the things of the past.”
He turned childhood nostalgia into a global empire, proving how deeply we crave that return to innocence. However, psychological circles often raise a valid concern: Where is the line between healthy nostalgia and psychological regression?
Regression happens when we use the past as an escape hatch to avoid adult responsibilities, or when we cope with current trauma by reverting to an earlier developmental stage. But there is a massive difference between retreating into childhood because you can’t handle the present, and inviting your inner child into the present to help you heal.
Embracing nostalgia isn’t about wishing you were seven years old again. It’s about recognizing that the child you used to be still exists inside your neural pathways. When finals burnout strikes, or when life feels cold and demanding, tapping into nostalgia is a form of nervous system regulation. It reminds your inner child—and your current self—that you have a history of safety, wonder, and survival.
So buy the retro sneakers. Listen to the middle-school playlist. Keep a Silly Band on your desk. It’s not regression; it’s a beautifully scientific way of mothering your own inner child.