Los Angeles, California – Music has a powerful impact on our brains, especially when it comes to evoking nostalgic memories. Recent studies conducted by a team of scientists at the University of Southern California have shed light on how music activates various brain areas linked to memory, reward, and self-processing. This groundbreaking discovery could potentially improve the quality of life for individuals struggling with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Nostalgic music, defined as music that holds strong emotional ties to specific moments in our lives, has the ability to elicit deep emotions across different age groups. While the underlying reasons for this phenomenon have long remained a mystery, researchers have found that music can trigger intense emotional responses that range from calming to invigorating.
Led by USC researcher Assal Habibi, the team at the USC Dornsife Center for Music, Brain, and Society has been delving into the intricacies of how the brain responds to favorite songs. Habibi highlights that listening to nostalgic music not only activates traditional memory networks in the brain but also engages reward, narrative, and self-processing systems. This unique interaction could potentially be harnessed to aid individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Taking their research further, Habibi and her team are exploring how music impacts cognitive function and the brain’s overall health. By combining tools like neuroimaging and psychometric testing, they aim to understand the profound effects music can have on our brains. Their collaborative efforts involve experts from USC Dornsife, the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the USC Thornton School of Music, and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
One of their projects focuses on how learning to play a musical instrument can enhance cognitive and language skills in developing children. By partnering with organizations like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Heart of Los Angeles, the researchers have gained insights into the connection between music, emotional regulation, and learning.
In a separate study, Habibi and doctoral candidate Sarah Hennessy are exploring the role of nostalgic music in triggering memories and emotions. By utilizing machine learning, MRI technology, and psychology expertise, they aim to uncover how music can help individuals recall vivid memories that may have been lost to time.
Their research involves scanning the brains of participants as they listen to nostalgic music, control songs, and unfamiliar music. The results have shown increased activity in brain regions associated with daydreaming, personal narrative, and visual processing. This heightened brain response to nostalgic music could potentially be used as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with dementia.
Overall, the studies conducted by the USC team offer a promising outlook on the power of music to evoke memories, enhance cognitive function, and improve the quality of life for individuals affected by neurodegenerative diseases. Through their ongoing research and clinical trials, they aim to harness the unique connection between music and memory to provide effective interventions for those in need.