Discover how music, memory, and emotion are intricately connected as Elizabeth Margulis, PhD, explores the reasons behind our strong attachment to music from our teen years, the universality of music perception, the intrigue of repetition in music, the mystery of earworms, and the therapeutic power of music.
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Quick takeaways
Certain songs trigger vivid autobiographical memories, especially from teen years due to identity formation.
Music's emotional impact depends on key, tempo, and lyrics, engaging diverse brain regions for processing.
Deep dives
The Relationship Between Music and Memory
Music has a powerful connection to memory, with certain songs being able to evoke vivid autobiographical memories. Research by Amy Belfie has shown that music can trigger more descriptive and sensory memories compared to visual prompts. People often have a strong attachment to music from their teen years due to repeated exposure and its role in identity formation.
The Impact of Music on Emotions
Music plays a significant role in regulating mood, with individuals using both happy and sad music for emotional experience. The emotion expressed in music does not always align with the listener's emotional response, leading to complex emotional experiences. The key, tempo, and lyrics of a song can influence its emotional impact, with various factors contributing to how music evokes emotions.
Cultural Influence on Music Perception
Exposure to music across cultures impacts an individual's perception of sound and music. Early exposure to diverse musical styles can shape one's ability to distinguish different musical elements. For instance, people may lose the ability to discern unfamiliar musical patterns over time if not consistently exposed to them, highlighting the role of early exposure in shaping music perception.
The Intrigues of Musical Cognition
Musical cognition engages various brain regions, such as those responsible for motor skills, cognition, and emotions. Unlike a specific music area, music processing involves a complex interplay of different brain functions. Studies on music-related skills like tone deafness and aphasia reveal the intricate connections between music and brain functioning, underscoring the multifaceted nature of musical cognition.
The right song can make us feel chills, help pull us out of a bad mood, or take us back in time to the first time we heard it. Elizabeth Margulis, PhD, director of the Music Cognition Lab at Princeton University, talks about how music, memory, emotion and imagination intertwine; why people are especially attached to music from their teen years; whether there’s any music that’s considered universally beautiful; why repetition is important in music; and why we so often get “earworms” stuck in our head. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.