Psychologists are to use the Beatles in a new study into how musical memories affect a human beings identify.

Scientists at the University of Leeds hope to create a database of "autobiographical" memories by asking people to connect specific moments in their lives with the Liverpool band.

They expect to find that certain albums in the band’s history or events, such as the assassination of John Lennon, will relate to events in a person’s long-term memory.

Professor Martin Conway, who is heading the investigation, told the BBC that the Beatles are the most obvious band to use.

"The reason why we're interested in this is we're interested in a thing called generation identity.

“So we're quite interested in how your memory of your own personal experiences is linked into public events,” he said.

(by Jason Gregory)