Music hits the mark to improve our memory
For almost a decade now we have understood that music listening activates the reward network in the brain. The reward network sends impulses around our brain that make us feel “rewarded” which are those same feelings when we are recognised for something good that we have done. Think back, can you remember a time when you were recognised for a specific skill you have, for years of service to a role or for something you had achieved which was hard. That is the feeling that the reward network is creating inside you.
The harder-working foot soldier in the reward network is dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain and body that gets the reward party started. It sends messages through your body as this recognition of achievement is occurring, and very soon after that, it is the process that also transports the adrenaline that we also feel.
Hearing your heartbeat very loudly inside your head is just one reaction to that adrenaline rush activated by the reward network. Another reaction from the reward network is motivation. When we feel like we have achieved success with something difficult we get a rush of dopamine and adrenaline that motivates us to keep on trying.
Music learning is a perfect vehicle to activate our reward network because it gets activated regularly, even daily, when we try and try again during our practice and when we finally get that note or that run of notes we have been working so hard on.
This study also shows that listening to music you identify as rewarding can then improve your ability to recollect information. For children, music has been used as a tool to enhance memory retrieval and each child could develop their own “Music-Memory playlist” to help with some types of information recollection.
Imagine a classroom filled with musically fuelled memory enhancement!
Music learning is the most effective way, both in terms of time and impact, to prime the brain for language learning.
If you are looking to develop your child’s emotional, social, motor and cognitive skills from early childhood, then try introducing music in early educational programs. Watch this video to learn more!
As humans, we are built on stories. The stories we were told, or told ourselves, when we were young, carry through to our adulthood. We share wisdom through stories, and we teach through stories. How do we as music teachers tell the story of our work?
This article delves into the transformative impact of music education, particularly for underserved students, and a strategic tool for addressing academic challenges, boosting attendance, language skills, and social integration.
You don’t have to be a musician to reap the benefits of music. Enjoying music activates a slew of brain regions, including areas involved in hearing, movement, reward, and emotion.
The field of neuromusical research has reached a new stage – large data-driven studies that are seeking to understand the overall effect of music learning on cognitive development and academic achievement.
The 2024 Celebrate to Advocate Calendar is your go-to guide for making advocacy effortless this year!
Research Bites make it effortless for your community to grasp the advantages of music education. They are the perfect addition to your emails, on your social media or in your e-newsletters!
Research Quick Reads aim to equip you with key insights to share the benefits of music education with your school leaders, staff, or parents. Consider these your secret weapon for initiating meaningful conversations on this topic.
Social psychology author, Brene Brown, uses the term Art Scars, which are experiences people have had as children in the arts that are deeply affecting. Art Scars might just be the hidden influence impacting your music learning advocacy.
Professor Sarah Wilson explains how singing is a form of natural therapy in this video by ABC Classic. She highlights the effect that singing has on motor networks, listening networks, planning and organisational networks, memory, language, and emotional networks. Essentially, singing is a full workout for the brain!
Recent research suggests that music, especially preferred tunes, can serve as potent painkillers. A study conducted by Darius Valevicius from McGill University found that participants listening to their favourite tracks experienced significantly reduced pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to silence or scrambled sound.
New research suggests that playing instruments and singing may support brain health as we age. A study found that engaging in musical activities, especially playing keyboard instruments, correlates with improved memory and cognitive function later in life.
Packed with BBB updates and our year in review, a new opinion piece written by Dr Anita Collins, a new community success story, and so much more. Fireworks will inspire and motivate you to advocate for music education.
This article dives into the history and enduring vitality of the Brisbane City Pops Orchestra who have recently celebrated their milestone 50th-anniversary performance. The orchestra boasts a diverse ensemble of musicians spanning generations, including members who have been involved since the beginning.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that individuals with a history of musical experience, regardless of proficiency or instrument played, exhibited better memory and executive function.
New research challenges traditional theories of infant language acquisition, suggesting that babies primarily learn language through rhythmic rather than phonetic information in their initial months.
Packed with BBB updates and our year in review, a new opinion piece written by Dr Anita Collins, a new research reflection, and so much more. Fireworks will inspire and motivate you to advocate for music education.
This video contains excerpts from an ARTSpeaks event held on November 8, 2021. In this video, neurobiologist Nina Kraus explores the impact that music learning has on young students in the areas of reading skills, sound processing, language abilities, and more.