Investigating the Role of Music in Fostering Associative Memory at Encoding
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Nurbhai, Zahra
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Abstract
Associative memory and generalization are important aspects of daily life that allow us to make connections and learn from past experience. Music may have the ability to enhance the formation of associations and improve generalization across events. Previous literature has found that music can act as a mnemonic or contextual factor that promotes stronger connections within associative memory. The present research replicates Shohamy & Wagner's (2008) study design with the addition of background music to their model. We assessed undergraduate-age participants (n = 33) on a behavioral task that includes two parts: encoding and retrieval. The encoding phase allowed participants to learn direct animal-scene associations with feedback. The retrieval phase tested their memory on these direct associations, along with a novel indirect association, aimed to assess across-event generalization. Trials during encoding and retrieval were tested in the presence or silence, depending on condition. Statistical analysis revealed a positive effect of music on accuracy and a slower response time for trials with music during encoding. A slower response time for the music condition in retrieval was found, although other findings during this phase were not significant. These results suggest that music has the potential to strengthen the encoding of associations, but may slow response times during both encoding and retrieval. It may increase cognitive load during retrieval, with a possible detrimental effect on generalization. Overall, music seems to aid encoding, but its effects on retrieval are less clear.
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Undergraduate Research Option Thesis