We like to think that memory is a key indicator of our intellectual abilities. After all, that’s what makes us such a capable species. Without memory, we wouldn’t be able to pass down information from generation to generation, which is how we evolve. Therefore, we like to believe that memory is linked only to reason and intellect.
However, recent studies have revealed that other factors – such as emotions, stress, food, and hormones – can have a huge impact on the way we remember information. This is why we aim to further understand the effect of music on memory; music is one of the few elements we can actually manipulate in order to create more robust memories.
Before we recommend how you can use memory-boosting music in your studies, let’s first look at the scientific reasoning behind the effect of music on memory.
The Science Behind Memory-Boosting Music
In order to truly understand the science, let’s start with an example: You’ll be taking a test tomorrow and you’re reading the same old notes, but you can’t seem to remember anything.
And it’s surprising, because we know that concentrating long and hard enough on something makes us remember it. What’s the reasoning behind that? Well, pieces of information that we focus on are transformed into electrical impulses that travel between the brain’s neurons through synapses. That means if we repeat something often, we’ll strengthen the bond between neurons and create a memory.
But why can’t you seem to remember something you really want to, especially when you’re trying hard to focus with all of your attention? Long-term memories are stored by the hippocampus, a region in the brain which is also influenced by proper maintenance of the “working memory.” The working memory itself is influenced by attention.
However, attention in this case isn’t equivalent to concentration, but to a more meditative state, affected by the production of alpha and theta waves by the brain. The alpha waves allow deep concentration, while the theta waves bring calmness and relaxation.
The Reason We Can’t Remember Things
So here’s the answer: Many times stress is what disconcerts our brain, making it harder for us to learn new things. To counteract the negative effects that stress has on our memory, we must create the same calmness for ourselves.
With that said, scientists found that music induces a state of meditation and relaxes the brain. Thus, the effect of music on memory is that it allows our brains to become more disengaged, or more free of “debris” which impede their proper functions.
If you want your test scores to be as high as possible, consider listening to music while studying.
What About Long-Term Memory?
Apart from momentary stress (or acute stress) caused by nervousness-inducing tasks, chronic stress is another disruptor for the formation of long-term memories. Chronic stress is worse than acute stress because it causes actual health problems, like high blood pressure and heart disease.
By messing with our hormones, chronic stress can cause loss of brain matter, affecting already-formed synapses (i.e. long-term memories). The same consequence is triggered by depression, an affliction correlated with low levels of dopamine and serotonin (these are called “neurotransmitters”).
More to the point, both neurotransmitters play an important part in memory formation and they can both be influenced by music. Therefore, if you listen to adequate memory-boosting music while studying, chances are you’ll exceed your own expectations.