Activity
The Effect of Music on Memory
This project was completed by Adam and Eli at Texas School for Blind this spring. Their project tested the effect of music on memory.
This science project was done by Adam and Eli, who are students at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI).
Question
Does listening to music help people perform better on memory tests?
Hypothesis
Adam and Eli (after doing research) thought that listening to music would help people perform better on memory tests.
Materials
- Braille paper
- Perkins braillewriter
- Computer
- Printer paper
- Banda music on YouTube
- Stopwatch
Preparing the tests
- We talked a lot about what kind of test to use. We chose a list of numbers with 2 digits each. The list was backwards for the second test.
- The numbers from the two tests are as follows. The two tests are attached as well.
Test 1
Numbers:
44, 12, 94, 89, 21, 19, 31, 56, 61
Test 2
Numbers:
61, 56, 31, 19, 21, 89, 94, 12, 44
Procedure
- Four subjects were given two tests to memorize nine numbers in a row.
- They had three minutes to memorize the numbers each time.
- During the first test there was no music.
- For the second test Banda music was playing.
Procedure (Detailed)
This version is a more detailed procedure that the student prepared in conjuction with teaching assistant Marianne Levy.
- Make a list of nine 2-digit numbers in braille and print. (See Test 1)
- Prepare the list in backwards order. (See Test 2)
- Make print and braille copies of each for the students.
- Give each student 3 minutes to quietly study Test 1.
- Have students write down as many numbers in order from Test 1 as he or she remembers. This may also be completed orally.
- Students will study Test 2 while listening to Banda music on the computer for 3 minutes.
- Have students write down as many numbers from Test 2 in order as he or she remembers. This may also be completed orally.
- Analyze the data and draw a conclusion.
Results
- On test 1 the average was 1.25 numbers out of 9 were correctly remembered.
- On test 2 the average was 3.25 numbers out of 9 were correctly remembered.
Conclusion
Listening to music helps people perform better on memory tests.
NGSS Standards:
- Plan and conduct an investigation individually and collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence, and in the design: decide on types, how much, and accuracy of data needed to produce reliable measurements and consider limitations on the precision of the data (e.g., number of trials, cost, risk, time), and refine the design accordingly. (HS-ESS2-5)
By Laura Hospitál
Return to Accessible Science main page.
