The Effects of Music on Memory Retention

The Effects of Music on Memory Retention

Taylor N. Scott
Meghan Dixon
Katie Wiscombe
Erin D. Bigler

Scott, Taylor N.; Dixon, Meghan; Wiscombe, Katie; Bigler, Erin D.

Abstract

Popular belief indicates that music aids in memory retention. However, Gray and Della Sala (2007) found that music does not have a significant effect on memory. A similar study indicated that music only aids memory when it is used as an association (mnemonic device; Moore, Peterson, O’Shea, & Thaut, 2008). Given this background, we hypothesized music would not influence retention on a standard clinical measure of short-term memory retention like the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT; Rey, 1995).