Why Do We Remember Old Pop Songs But Forget Where Our Keys Are?

Daniel Levitin of McGill University looks at why music has a special power over our minds. Part 2 of Unlocking the Secrets and Powers of the Brain, sponsored by the NSF, The Franklin Institute, and DISCOVER magazine. http://discovermagazine.com/events/unlocking-the-secrets-and-powers-of-the-br...

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• mind
• brain
• memory
• music
• daniel_levitin

[happinesson]

i agree with Mr. Levitin. Human have a strong emotional attachment with music! Old Music might represent some important events in our lives.

[tedkanode123]

whoop whoop.. :) enjoyed it!

[starlitsky222]

Very interesting, indeed!!!!

[killhumans001]

very intresting.

[rubyredshoe]

pop songs actually work off memory and deep seeded thoughts, people like songs that have melodies/note combination that have previously been herd and liked.

Musical note progression actually can work mathematically by using a formula on the frequencies of the note to work out the next possibly. Great music is actually maths and physics.

[rubyredshoe]

I don't anyone can fully understand philosophy, most of it quite contradictory and most of it is an argument disproving other theories. This isn't philosophy however, its brain function.

I do however thing its great that your only 14 and you've taken such an intrest in this kind of thing.

[RomZomCom]

Especially earworms. If I recall correctly, we also remember useless events (example: birds flying or unremarkable people in crowds), but it's a totally different process.

[RomZomCom]

Remember, it rips out everything. If I recall correctly, victims in really late stages forget to breathe.

[charlesfrith]

I think you're in agreement with the Daniel Levitin. That music is ostensibly memory.

[huckball1959]

True enough. But the brain is very complicated, and Alzheimer's is very mysterious. I imagine memory allocation is equally complex, and the disease targets specific parts of the brain. Perhaps if we would sing the names of our loved ones over and over we would remember them, even when afflicted with the disease. What do you think?