The lyrics of old songs, which we haven't heard for years, remain ready in our memory whenever the melody plays. Ironically, the human mind may lose recent memories, such as forgetting where the car keys are, but it does not forget the lyrics to a song that was repeatedly heard, loved, and hummed. The question posed by "The Conversation" in a report is: "Do the lyrics of songs live somewhere in our memory? And what about the impact of music in that part of memory that keeps things difficult to forget?"
The report's author, Jo Adetunji, states, "Music has a long history of being used as a memory aid, that is, to help remember words and information. Before the advent of written language, music was used to convey stories and information verbally. We see many examples of this even today, such as how children are taught the alphabet, numbers, and perhaps the names of the fifty states in the United States. In fact, I challenge any adult reader to try to remember the letters of the alphabet without hearing the familiar tune or rhythm in their mind."
There are many reasons why music and lyrics seem intricately linked in memory. She enumerates: "First, the features of music often serve as a predictable 'scaffold' to help us remember the associated song lyrics. For example, the rhythm and beats of the music provide clues about the length of the next word in the sequence. This helps narrow down the possible word choices we need to remember by indicating that a three-syllable word fits within a specific rhythm in the song."
The report's author adds, "The melody of the song can also help break the text into meaningful parts. This essentially allows us to remember longer segments of information than if we had to memorize each word individually. Songs often use literary devices such as rhyme and alliteration, making them easier to memorize."
When diagnosing the phenomenon, it is noted that when we sing or hear a song several times, that song may become available unconsciously in our memory. This is similar to a form of procedural memory, a subtype of implicit memory, and part of long-term memory, much like riding a bike: it is something we can do without thinking too much about the steps involved. The report relates, "One reason music is deeply rooted in memory this way is that we tend to hear the same songs multiple times throughout our lives (more than reading a book or watching a favorite movie). Additionally, the appeal to emotions and feelings plays a significant role in stimulating memory for retention."
Triggers
A large body of research has found that emotional triggers are remembered better than non-emotional ones. According to the report: "The task of trying to remember the alphabet or the colors of the rainbow is inherently more stimulating when set to an appealing tune – and we can recall this material better later when we create an emotional connection."
Music and Lyrics
It is worth mentioning that not all previous research has found that music facilitates memory for the associated words. For example, upon first encounter with a new song, it is more challenging to remember the melody along with the accompanying lyrics than to remember the words alone. This makes sense, considering the multi-tasking involved. However, after overcoming this initial hurdle and being exposed to a song several times, beneficial effects appear to start. Once the melody becomes familiar, it is generally easier to remember the accompanying lyrics than it would be if attempting to memorize those words without the tune.
The report indicates that research applications in this area are being prepared to assist individuals with various neurodegenerative disorders. For example, music seems to help those suffering from Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis remember verbal information. The report's author concludes, "So, the next time you place your car keys in a new spot, try creating a catchy song to remind you of their location the following day – theoretically, you should not forget where you put them so easily."
