Music and Past Memories

 Advanced Level

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We have all heard anecdotes about the “power of music” to reconnect us with moments from our past. Psychological research has supported the idea that music can cue particularly vivid and emotional lifetime memories.

But one big question remains: Why does music seem to be particularly good at bringing back key memories?

Research to date has not fully addressed this question, but we have a few possible answers. One could simply be that music is a stimulus present during many of our critical life events. We play music during weddings, rites of passage, and funerals. The presence of music during such events means that music can be a good cue for memories of these events later on.

Across four different experiments, it was found that music evoked fewer memories than the sounds and words. This suggests that music is not simply a more effective cue than other, equivalently emotional memory cues. However, music brought back more uniformly positive memories compared to sounds and words. While more negative sounds and words evoked more negative memories, sad- and angry-sounding music brought back just as positive memories as joyful pieces of music.

This suggests that music may be somewhat unique in its association with positive life events. This could be because even negative-sounding music often puts us in a positive mood. Angry music can rev us up, and sad music is often perceived as beautiful and moving. This positive response to negative music could then sway us to recall similarly positive memories.

Now tell me. What is your most memorable song? don’t forget to leave us a comment.

Elementary Level

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We have all heard stories about the “power of music” and how it can remind us of our past memories. Psychological studies have supported the idea that music can make us remember some clear memories of our life.

But one big question remains: Why is music particularly good at bringing back important memories?

So far, research has not answered this question completely, but we have a few possible answers. One could simply be that music is present during many of our important life eventsWe play music during weddings and funerals or our 18th birthday party. The presence of music during such events means that music can be a good reminder of these memories.

Four experiments showed that the sounds and words remind us of more memories than music. This means that music is not simply more effective than other reminders. However, music can bring back more good memories that are similar. While more negative sounds and words make us remember more negative memories, sad- and angry-sounding music brings back the same number of good memories as happy pieces of music.

This means that for our positive life events music is very different from everything else. This could be because even negative-sounding music often puts us in a good mood. Angry music can make us active, and sad music is often seen as beautiful and interesting. This positive response to negative music could make us remember even good memories.

Now tell me. What is your most memorable song? Don’t forget to leave us a comment.

ترجمه فارسی

همه ی ما حکایت هایی در مورد "قدرت موسیقی" شنیدیم که ما رو با خودش به لحظات گذشته می بره.تحقیقات روان‌شناختی این ایده رو باور داره که موسیقی می تونه یاددآور خاطرات روشن و احساسی عمر باشه.
اما یه سوال بزرگ همچنان پابرجاست: چرا موسیقی یجورایی در به یاد آوردن خاطرات مهم انقدر تاثیرگذاره؟

تا به امروز تحقیقات به طور کامل به این سوال پاسخ ندادن، اما ما چندتا پاسخ احتمالی داریم. یکی از این پاسخ های ساده میتونه این باشه که موسیقی محرکیه که در بسیاری از رویدادهای مهم زندگی ما وجود داره.ما در مراسم های عروسی، عزاداری و تدفین از موسیقی استفاده می کنیم. وجود موسیقی در چنین رویدادهایی به این معنیه که موسیقی می تونه یادآور خوبی برای خاطرات این رویدادها در آینده باشه.

نتایج چهار آزمایش مختلف نشان دادن که موسیقی نسبت به صداها و کلمات، خاطرات کمتری رو یادآور میشن. این نشون می ده که موسیقی نشونه ای موثرتر از نشونه های دیگه حافظه عاطفی نیست. با این حال، در این آزمایش ها موسیقی نسبت به صداها و کلمات خاطرات مثبت تری رو زنده کرد. در حالی که صداها و کلمات با بار معنایی منفی، بیشتر خاطرات منفی رو به خاطر ها آوردن، موسیقی غمگین و خشن به اندازه موسیقی شاد خاطرات مثبت رو زنده کرد.
این نشون می ده که موسیقی ممکنه بسته به رویدادهای مثبت زندگی تا حدودی منحصر به فرد باشه.

این هم می تونه به این دلیل باشه که حتی موسیقی با حس منفی هم اغلب ما رو در روحیه مثبت قرار می ده. موسیقی خشن می تونه مارو فعال کنه و موسیقی غمگین معمولا زیبا و تاثیرگذار تلقی می شه. این پاسخ مثبت به موسیقی منفی می تونه برای ما یادآور خاطرات مثبت مشابه باشه.