Speaker
Description
Memory retrieval is closely tied to emotional and affective content. Prior research has shown that emotionally charged stimuli enhances recall and shape the subjective quality of remembered experiences. In the context of soundscapes, everyday acoustic environments can act as powerful cues for evoking autobiographical memories that are often intertwined with perceptions of comfort and affective appraisal. This study investigates memory retrieval in urban and indoor soundscapes, focusing on associations with affective and comfort attributes derived from soundwalk methodologies conducted in Brazil and Germany. In Brazil, data were collected at Inter-Noise 2025 with 35 participants who evaluated two contrasting outdoor environments: a busy avenue and a quiet square. In Germany, data were gathered with 20 participants during DAGA 2026, covering two indoor areas within a conference venue and one outdoor area characterised by traffic noise and social interaction. Participants assessed affective and comfort-related attributes, as well as providing classified responses regarding emotions, preferences (like/dislike) , appropriateness, and overall feeling. Reported memories were categorised and analysed in relation to these perceptual dimensions. Using correspondence analysis, associations were identified between specific types of retrieved memories, comfort attributes (noisy and comfortable), and affective attributes (pleasant, not annoying, exhausting and relaxing). The results highlight systematic relationships between soundscape characteristics, affective-comfort evaluation, and memory content, suggesting that both environmental context and perceptual appraisal influence the nature of memory retrieval. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how urban and indoor acoustic environments support emotionally grounded memory processes, informing sound design strategies that promote comfort and positive experiences.