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Profound impact -

Music has a strong impact on our memory due to its ability to affect emotions and create strong mental associations. When we listen to music, multiple parts of our brain are triggered to react emotionally and cognitively. This is bound to have an effect on how we remember things.

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Types of memory -

There are fundamentally two types of memory, namely “procedural” and “episodic.” Procedural memory is also known as "muscle memory," and involves habits or routines that can be done without thought. Episodic memory, however, requires conscious recollection and is what our brains use to remember something.

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Trigger - Familiar music can trigger memories from specific times, places, or experiences in your life. This phenomenon is known as "music-evoked autobiographical memory," and is characterized by the vivid recall of associated events or emotions.

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Vivid autobiographical memories - Music-evoked autobiographical memories often contain vivid details that are directly connected to more than one of our senses, such as sounds, smells, and emotions, all of which contribute to their richness and intensity.

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Personal associations -

Certain songs or pieces of music have the potential to become intertwined with personal memories, and so they serve as auditory bookmarks for significant events. If you listen to the music again years later, you may find yourself involuntarily remembering those moments from the past.

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Emotional responses -

Different genres and styles of music can elicit distinct emotional responses, which influences how our brains retrieve memories. This is especially true if people tend to listen to different styles for different occasions.

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Musical nostalgia -

Recalling favorite music from the past is known as “musical nostalgia,” and is seen as a rich tapestry of autobiographical memories. When you experience difficulty in life, you may find yourself listening to music from the past in order to feel calmer, since doing this offers a sense of security.

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Limbic system -

The connection between music and memory is rooted in the brain's limbic system, which processes our emotions and memory formation. Music can consolidate our memories and code our emotions by engaging this part of the brain.

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Neural activation - Neuroimaging studies have shown that when a person listens to music there is increased neural activity in memory-related parts of their brain. Their mind is basically lighting up and rewriting its pathways every time a tune is played.

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Chromesthesia -

Some people involuntarily perceive color while listening to music or other sounds, a condition known as chromesthesia (or “sound-to-color synesthesia”). Color pairings are different for every person, but it seems that high pitched sounds are usually associated with lighter or brighter colors, while darker colors are reserved for low pitched sounds.

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Dopamine -

When the brain comes into contact with music, it releases doses of dopamine into the body, which is basically the mind’s reward/pleasure system. Not only does music help your memory, but it also makes you feel good about it!

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Musical mnemonics -

Catchy tunes or rhymes–known as mnemonics–are effective for learning and retaining information. Mnemonic devices capitalize on rhythmic and melodic patterns to help build a stronger brain.

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Advertising and marketing -

Mnemonics are also used in advertising and marketing, since brands want their customers to experience strong emotions when they think about a product or service. Jingles are a prime example.

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Rhythmic structure -

Music even has the ability to enhance your memory, since it provides a foundation for organizing and remembering information. This is because predictable beats and tempos help the cognitive processes in our brains synchronize.

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Early musical experiences -

Musical experiences during childhood, such as learning to play an instrument or singing in a choir, can have long-lasting effects on memory development. After all, the memory networks in the mind are strengthened through continued musical exercise.

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Mozart effect -

The "Mozart effect" suggests that listening to classical music may temporarily enhance cognitive functions, including memory, although some scientists are still debating the long-term effects. Some parents even play classical music to their children in the crib in the hopes that it might bolster their IQ.

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Background music in education -

Background music in schools has the potential to influence learning and memory performance, with some types of music helping students concentrate. Studies have shown that music with moderate tempos can help support attention for longer periods of time.

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Music therapy -

Music therapy utilizes the power of music to enhance memory, cognition, and emotional well-being in people with neurological conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Indeed, some patients with these conditions are able to sing along effortlessly to songs, despite being unable to recall personal memories.

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Personalized playlists -

Patients suffering from dementia are shown to have a marked improvement in mood and brain function when personalized playlists are used. Familiar music from the past brings up preserved memories and elicits positive emotional responses. All of this most assuredly enhances quality of life.

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Artificial intelligence -

Software developers are trying to create music players that use artificial intelligence to curate individualized playlists designed to guide people from a state of anxiety to one of calm.

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Musical training -

Musical training has been linked to enhanced memory skills, as musicians often demonstrate superior memory abilities related to sound. Learning to play an instrument is usually a fundamental part of training memory.

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Improvisation -

While playing music, improvisation encourages spontaneous creativity and can enhance memory performance by stimulating divergent thinking and problem-solving skills.

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Repetitive practice -

The process of learning and rehearsing musical pieces involves repetitive practice, which strengthens the way that our minds make memories. As a result, every other part of a person’s life can benefit from the brain’s increased neural capability.

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Collaborative musical experiences -

It goes without saying that collaborative musical experiences, such as singing with friends, can foster social bonds and create collective memories. There is something magical about having shared memories with your friends and community.

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Cultural and collective memories -

The association between music and memory extends beyond individual experiences to cultural and collective memories shared by societies. Music serves as a repository of cultural heritage, preserving collective memories and transmitting cultural identity across generations.

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Music creation -

Aside from simply listening to music or participating in musical training, studies have shown that active songwriting and music creation also has a profound impact on a person’s ability to overcome traumatic memories.

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Musical imagery -

In the absence of a musical instrument, trying to imagine it can also stimulate brain networks involved in memory and perception. This is why many musicians can be seen practicing even when they aren’t physically holding their instruments, or why most people randomly remember lyrics to songs that aren’t playing.

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Narratives and emotional responses -

Watching musical narratives, like films or plays that use songs or instrumental motifs, can create powerful emotional responses and help build memories and empathy.

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Powerful mnemonic device -

Overall, music serves as a powerful device to shape our memories and identities. It stimulates sensory experiences and fosters social connections that make it a potent tool for memory enhancement and emotional expression.

Sources: (Music & Memory) (Levine Music) (Harvard Health) (The Washington Post) (TakeLessons) (Twelve Tone Music School)

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