New Study Explores Why Certain Hugs Remain Memorable Years Later

, researchers discovered that certain embraces linger in our memories because of the emotional response they evoke rather than the physical action itself.

, nearly 70 percent of participants reported recalling a hug that left a positive emotional mark on them, with comfort being the most frequently cited reason.

, the findings revealed that people scoring higher in empathy and bodily awareness tended to have stronger recollections of meaningful embraces, whereas those uncomfortable with emotional closeness were less likely to report such memories.

, the authors noted limitations, including that the data relied on self-reported survey responses from a UK sample where about three-quarters of the participants were women.