Those Holiday Feels: Retrieval of Memory and Emotion

It’s that time of year again, the holiday season.  Regardless of which holidays you celebrate, music has a place in all world cultures. And at least in the North Eastern US, there are certain tunes that seem to pop up year after year (cue Mariah Carey). 

Hearing the songs you've lived with can produce a visceral reaction:  nostalgia, a bittersweet happiness, glee, or sadness.  Maybe it's sitting in the back seat of your parents' car, or waiting for the school bus in the snow.  

The power of music is the power to stir up latent memories, feelings and thoughts in profound ways.

This phenomenon is being harnessed through music therapy to treat patients with Alzheimer’s.  According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) , music accompanies many significant occurrences in a person’s life.  The brain stores these events, emotions, and music by associations.  The retrieval of these events may be triggered by the music associated with them.  

Listening to music may have a sudden transporting effect that may even surprise you.  A musical cue can spark a spontaneous recall of occurrences that are accompanied by vivid feelings.    How does this work? Researchers are really not sure.  One theory is the auditory cortex is quite robust and generally “spared” from degenerative disease.  Plus, memories associated with emotion are stronger than without.  Even those with advanced Alzheimer’s show recognition of music through tapping or humming.     For now, not knowing the biological answer makes it all the more fun to experience.   Enjoy allowing music work its wonders as a meaningful way to connect with yourself and loved ones.    Cheers,  Michelle