#Nostalgia

A strange new collectible has taken Thailand—and the global internet—by storm. Over the past few months, wild-eyed, snaggle-toothed little creatures known as Labubu have appeared dangling from backpacks, crowding keychains, and starring in viral YouTube unboxing videos. To many, their sudden popularity seemed to come from nowhere. The fever hit new heights after a famous K-pop star was spotted carrying a Labubu, instantly launching them into the imaginations and wishlists of a generation. Now, they’re the must-have item for young Thais and adults alike, with some rare versions fetching eye-watering prices in local and international collectible markets.

A quirky trend is sweeping Thailand and the global internet: Labubu, round-eyed figurines that appear on backpacks, keychains, and in unboxing videos. The craze surged after a K-pop star was seen with a Labubu, turning the toy into a must-have for fans and collectors. Rare versions now command high prices in local and regional markets.

Experts say the Labubu boom is more than a passing fad. A recent analysis points to two driving forces: nostalgia and the thrill of blind-box purchases. Nostalgia taps into memories of oddball toys from childhood, while blind boxes create suspense that can become addictive, especially among younger consumers.

Recent research by a leading social psychology team shows that nostalgic foods and familiar scents—like fresh-cut grass or the aroma of a grill—do more than please the palate. They boost mood, strengthen social bonds, and enhance a sense of meaning and well-being. For Thai readers, these findings resonate with our robust traditions of shared meals, markets, and rituals that knit families and communities together.

In Thai life, sensory cues from cooking and gathering play a central role. The scent of grilled pork skewers at a busy market, or jasmine rice at a family dinner, can evoke cherished memories and reinforce cultural identity. Historically, nostalgia was viewed with suspicion in parts of Europe, yet modern psychology highlights its positive aspects: nostalgia often arises from hardship and serves as a healing balm by reconnecting us with loved ones and meaningful moments. Research compiled by ethical, peer-reviewed sources shows that thinking about nostalgic foods—without necessarily eating them—can improve self-worth, deepen connections, and increase overall life satisfaction.

Nostalgic foods and familiar scents like fresh-cut grass and the smoky aroma of hamburgers grilling do far more than pique our appetites—they awaken vivid memories, foster a sense of belonging, and even boost our psychological well-being, according to recent research published on June 17, 2025, by a leading social psychology team at an American university (theconversation.com). Their findings shed fresh light on the power of sensory experiences to connect us with treasured times, loved ones, and communal traditions—an insight that resonates deeply within Thai communities, where shared meals and social rituals play a central role.

A recent study in PLOS One shows that nostalgic pop songs spark a stronger impulse to dance than songs that are simply familiar. The research reveals how music and memory together influence our movement, with potential implications for movement therapies and wellbeing.

According to researchers from a leading university, both nostalgia and familiarity increase enjoyment and the desire to tap or move along. Yet only nostalgia consistently predicts the powerful urge to dance. This finding could inform health interventions that use music to encourage movement, especially for people with movement disorders.

A recent study published in PLOS One reveals that nostalgic pop songs provoke a stronger urge to dance than tracks that are merely familiar, shining new light on how music and memory intertwine to move our bodies. Researchers from the University of Western Ontario found that while both nostalgia and familiarity boost enjoyment and the desire to tap or move along, only nostalgia predicted the powerful urge to dance—a discovery with potential implications for therapies targeting movement disorders and well-being.

A major study reveals that nostalgic memories evolve emotionally as time passes. Far from staying the same, these reflections become more complex and can even include sadness, alongside enduring warmth. The finding challenges the idea that emotional memory is stable and has meaningful implications for mental health, self-understanding, and how Thais connect with the past.

Researchers at a leading university in the United Kingdom conducted two experiments in which participants recalled nostalgic, ordinary, or neutral events and rated their feelings both at the time of the event and at recall. The study shows that nostalgic memories often start warm and positive but can dim over time, allowing negative feelings such as regret and loneliness to surface. This contrasts with the fading affect bias, where negative feelings typically diminish faster than positive ones. Nostalgia follows its own pattern, maintaining some positive emotion and a sense of connection, even as negative feelings arise.

A groundbreaking new study has shed light on the emotional evolution of nostalgic memories, revealing that our fond reflections grow in complexity—and even sadness—the further we drift from their origin. This insight challenges previous assumptions about the stability of emotional memory and may have important implications for mental health, self-understanding, and how Thais relate to their own past.

Researchers from the University of Southampton have found that nostalgic memories are far from emotionally static. Using two separate experiments, participants were asked to recall nostalgic, ordinary, or neutral personal events and rate their emotional responses both at the time the event occurred and at the moment of recollection. According to the findings reported by Neuroscience News, the emotional tone of nostalgic memories shifts over time: while initially brimming with warmth and positivity, these memories tend to fade in brightness, making room for more negative emotions—particularly regret and loneliness.

A compelling new psychology study suggests that the sensation of time “flying by” is more closely tied to periods of personal growth and satisfaction, rather than mundane routines or forgettable days. Published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the research fundamentally challenges the long-held belief that monotony compresses our memory of time, instead highlighting fulfillment and nostalgia as key drivers of our perceptions of how quickly life passes—even as we age (PsyPost).

A new psychology study suggests that the feeling of time “flying by” is driven more by personal growth and satisfaction than by dull routines. Published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the research challenges the idea that monotony makes memories feel shorter. Instead, fulfillment and nostalgia appear to shorten our sense of elapsed time.

For many people, including Thais, life often feels like years, semesters, or summers pass too quickly. In Thai culture, the expression “เวลาเหมือนสายน้ำ” (time is like a river) captures this shared sentiment, echoed during festivals such as Songkran and Loy Krathong. The study sheds light on why these moments seem to hurry by and what underlies that perception.

A groundbreaking new study has revealed that nostalgic memories, once cherished for their sweet emotional comfort, become increasingly bittersweet as time passes. This research, published in the journal Cognition & Emotion, challenges commonly held beliefs about nostalgia and sheds light on how our feelings about the past evolve – a finding with deep resonance for Thai society, where memories of childhood, university, and cultural festivals are often deeply revered (PsyPost).

A new study challenges the idea that nostalgia is purely comforting. Researchers report that memories once cherished for their warmth can become increasingly bittersweet as years pass. Published in Cognition & Emotion, the work explores how the emotional tone of past events shifts over time and what this means for Thai readers who deeply value family, festivals, and collective memory.

Nostalgia has long been linked to positive outcomes—strengthening social bonds, supporting identity, and sustaining optimism. The latest research, led by Tim Wildschut and colleagues, reveals a more complex picture: repeated reflection on the past often carries a subtle undertone of sadness, and this duality grows with time.

A recent psychological study published in Cognition & Emotion has shed new light on how our memories of the past, particularly nostalgic ones, evolve with the passage of time—becoming less sweet and more bitter. The findings, shared by researchers led by a UK-based psychologist and his team, challenge long-held assumptions about the nature of nostalgia and its role in our emotional well-being (PsyPost).

For Thai readers, who often reflect fondly on childhood, school days, or festival seasons such as Songkran and Loy Krathong, this research offers fresh insight into the complex emotional tapestry of nostalgia. In Thai culture, looking back on the past is not only a personal affair but a collective experience frequently woven into family reunions, university alumni gatherings, and temple fairs. Understanding how nostalgia’s emotional flavor shifts is especially relevant today, as many Thais confront rapid social change, urbanization, and dislocation from their roots.

A new study in Cognition & Emotion reveals that nostalgic memories grow less sweet and more bitter as time passes. Led by a UK-based psychologist and colleagues, the research challenges the idea that nostalgia always heals by strengthening social bonds and meaning.

For Thai readers, nostalgia is a familiar and treasured theme. Thai culture often centers on family reunions, school memories, and festive moments like Songkran and Loy Krathong. Understanding how nostalgia shifts emotionally is especially relevant amid rapid urbanization and social change in Thailand.

A new study in Human Brain Mapping shows that nostalgic songs activate a distinct brain network linked to memory, self-reflection, and emotion. The findings point to potential therapeutic uses for memory support in older adults, including those living with Alzheimer’s disease. For Thai readers, the research highlights how culturally resonant music can support mental wellness in an aging society.

Across ages, nostalgic melodies elicited stronger brain responses than familiar non-nostalgic tunes and unfamiliar songs. Older adults displayed particularly robust activation in nostalgia-related regions, underscoring music’s promise to support memory and emotional processing as people age. The work also suggests a culturally grounded approach to mental health in Thailand, where traditional and contemporary music shape daily life and wellbeing.

In an intriguing revelation, neuroscientists have discovered the unique impact of nostalgic music on the brain through a study recently published in Human Brain Mapping. The research unveils how nostalgic tunes ignite a distinctive network of brain regions linked to memory, self-reflection, and emotion, offering potential insights into therapeutic uses for memory retention in the elderly, including those with Alzheimer’s disease.

The study showed that nostalgic music elicited greater brain activity compared to both familiar and unfamiliar non-nostalgic melodies in participants of varying ages. Notably, older adults experienced even stronger activation in key nostalgia-related areas, emphasizing the potential of nostalgic music as a tool for enhancing memory and emotional processing as one ages. This study suggests that music—a quintessential element of Thai culture and traditions—could provide a culturally resonant approach to supporting mental health and well-being in Thailand’s rapidly aging society.