I have anecdotal evidence from multiple massage therapists claiming that they have triggered some form of mental / emotional response in a patient, due to physical stimulation (one case citing a sudden outburst of crying).
I understand there may be at least two reasons for this:
Actual memory stored in cells (see Body Memory)
Something more like Synesthesia: In this case physical stimulation linking memories in the brain that are otherwise repressed or inaccessible.
It seems there is just about 0 credible evidence to support the first cause, but I am curious what scientific approaches have managed to explain it away in regards to the second. So more specifically:
What evidence and/or theories do we have in place that surround the claim that tactile stimulation can trigger memory, notably that of the inaccessible or repressed kind?
P.S. I especially wanted to ask this due to a highly voted skeptics post questioning the effectiveness of acupuncture. (Thanks to Legend of Korra for the theory). If acupuncture is a proven method to invoke lost memories, perhaps it is more useful than a "particularly effective placebo" as is currently claimed in the highest voted answer there.