Music and Memory: How Songs Influence Brain Function

Music has long been recognized for its ability to lift mood and enhance memory, leading to its integration into therapeutic strategies for conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia. Nonetheless, the mechanisms through which music boosts memory are complex and not yet fully understood.

Recent research published in the Journal of Neuroscience sheds light on how specific features of music affect memory performance. Led by researchers Kayla Clark from Rice University and Stephanie Leal from UCLA, the study investigated which aspects of music are most effective in enhancing memory recall.

Participants in the study were shown images depicting everyday experiences while listening to music that was systematically altered in various ways. Findings revealed that certain musical features, such as whether the song was happy or sad, or if the song was familiar, did not significantly impact memory. Instead, individual emotional responses to music played a crucial role. Participants who experienced stronger emotional reactions tended to remember the core details or gist of the events more effectively, whereas those with moderate emotional responses remembered more detailed aspects.

The researchers emphasize that the memory-boosting potential of music is nuanced and specific to the type of memory. This suggests that personalized musical interventions could be more effective for cognitive enhancement, particularly in clinical settings. Since musical effects are not uniform, tailoring music therapy to individual emotional and cognitive profiles might optimize memory support.

This research advances our understanding of how emotional engagement with music influences different facets of memory and opens avenues for personalized music-based therapies for cognitive impairments.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-music-brain-exploring-songs-boost.html