Music has a unique ability to unlock memories that have been buried deep in our minds. For many, a simple melody or lyric can act as a bridge to the past. This connection between music and memory is a universal experience grounded in personal anecdotes and scientific insights into how our brains process sound and emotion.
For Amelia Rolls ‘25, songs like “Pompeii” by Bastille or “Firework” by Katy Perry bring a rush of emotions tied to specific moments in her life. She believes music evokes forgotten memories because “our memories are grounded in our senses”. A familiar sound can trigger the emotions we felt the last time we heard it, anchoring us to that experience. Ava Hay ‘26 recalled a similar connection to Taylor Swift’s song “Mean”, a song she would listen to over and over as a child on the swings at her neighborhood playground. She said, “Whenever I hear songs from any point, my memories correlated with the songs come back”.
Mia Davenport’s ‘25 childhood soundtrack was “Through the Deep, Dark Valley” by The Oh Hellos, an album her mother used as motivation to help her learn to swim. Now the album means much more as Mia said, “My perception of the album changed a lot as I got older, I now love it in a much deeper way.” Mrs. Butterfield, too, recalled how music from Disney’s “Fantasia” shaped her early experiences. The enchanting melodies of “Dance of the Hours” and “The Nutcracker Suite” delighted her, while the ominous strains of “Night on Bald Mountain” haunted her dreams, creating a powerful emotional imprint that lingers decades later.
These personal stories align with scientific research that explores how music is processed in the brain. When we listen to music, multiple regions of the brain activate, including the hippocampus, which plays a critical role in memory, and the amygdala, which governs emotion. This connection explains why music is so effective at evoking emotional memories. Unlike visual or tactile experiences, music remains constant over time—unchanging and familiar. As Mia said, “Things you see are always different. The world changes. But a song is always the same.” This consistency allows music to act as a reliable trigger for revisiting past moments with clarity.
The elements that make a song memorable vary from person to person. Amelia gravitates toward music with compelling storytelling, as she said, “Songs that I really like are usually ones that tell a story through their lyrics.”, while Ava finds powerful, relatable lyrics to be the most impactful. For Mia, a song’s instrumentation or even an indefinable quality can make it stand out. Mrs. Butterfield appreciates melodies that follow logical patterns, such as those found in classical music, but she also enjoys the dynamic spontaneity of jazz. Despite these varied preferences, it is clear that memorable music resonates emotionally, intellectually, or both, embedding itself in our consciousness.
Music doesn’t just connect humans to the past; it can also shape how we engage with the present. Many people use music as a tool for studying or focusing, though opinions on its effectiveness differ. Amelia and Ava believe music can be a valuable study aid, depending on the individual and the type of music. Ava said, “Music is definitely a study technique, but it’s not for everyone and it depends on the kind of music”, while Mia said, “I use video game soundtracks to help me study since they don’t have words and are made to be ambient.” On the other hand, Mrs. Butterfield finds it impossible to focus on tasks like reading while listening to music. She said, “Because of my musical training and experience, I end up analyzing as I’m listening, and can’t focus on anything else.”
Whether it’s a tool for concentration, a source of comfort, or a key to unlocking long-forgotten memories, music has an extraordinary capacity to influence our minds and emotions. As Mrs. Butterfield said, “There is something that taps into our personal, emotional world of the moment, and the music we hear becomes linked to the experience.” Its unchanging nature allows it to act as a constant amid the ever-changing landscapes of our lives, providing an anchor to moments we might otherwise forget. The science behind music and memory adds depth to our understanding of this phenomenon, but the true magic of music lies in its ability to speak to our shared humanity—connecting us to our past and grounding us in the present.
Works Cited
“Cognitive Crescendo: How Music Shapes the Brain’s Structure and Function.” PubMed Central, 2023, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10605363/#sec3-brainsci-13-01390. Accessed 20 November 2024.
