geheugenschijn

Geheugenschijn is a Dutch term used to describe the perceived glow or aura that accompanies certain memories. It conveys the sense that some past events are recalled with an intensified light, color, or warmth that lingers beyond the moment of recollection. The expression is primarily literary and cultural, rather than a formal term in psychology or neuroscience.

Etymology and meaning: The word is a compound of geheugen (to remember) and schijn (appearance or glow). Used metaphorically, geheugenschijn signals a memory that carries a visible, luminous quality in the mind, shaping how the memory is experienced and narrated.

Usage and context: Geheugenschijn appears in Dutch poetry, literary criticism, and reminiscence narratives. It is employed to express how memories can feel vivid and emotionally charged, influenced by mood, context, and personal significance. The concept sits alongside nostalgia and reminiscence but remains a metaphor rather than a defined scientific phenomenon.

Relation to science and criticism: In academic discussions, geheugenschijn is treated as a figurative device rather than an empirically measurable effect. It can be discussed in contrast with objective memory processes or perceptual afterimages, highlighting the subjective character of recollection.

Examples and interpretation: In prose or verse, a remembered scene might be described as emitting a warm gehuugenschijn, shaping how later events are imagined. Such usage aims to communicate the enduring impression a memory leaves on perception and emotion.

See also: Nostalgia, Reminiscence, Afterglow, Memory.