A new study published in Human Brain Mapping has found that nostalgic music engages both the brain’s memory centers and reward circuitry, offering a potential tool for improving emotional well-being and cognitive function in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory-related conditions. Led by Assal Habibi of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, researchers used functional MRI to monitor participants’ brain activity as they listened to songs tied to meaningful life events.
The findings suggest that music not only evokes memories but also activates specific neural regions associated with identity and personal history. This could provide a nonpharmacological path for improving quality of life in people experiencing memory loss. The study’s lead author, Sarah Hennessy, notes that “music is deeply intertwined with our sense of identity and personal history.”
Source: https://www.miragenews.com/how-nostalgic-music-helps-minds-remember-1442470