Student studies the numbers with music for trial 2.
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

Preparing the tests

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

  1. Four subjects were given two tests to memorize nine numbers in a row.
  2. They had three minutes to memorize the numbers each time.
  3. During the first test there was no music.
  4. 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.

  1. Make a list of nine 2-digit numbers in braille and print.   (See Test 1)
  2. Prepare the list in backwards order.   (See Test 2)
  3. Make print and braille copies of each for the students.
  4. Give each student 3 minutes to quietly study Test 1.
  5. Have students write down as many numbers in order from Test 1 as he or she remembers.  This may also be completed orally.
  6. Students will study Test 2 while listening to Banda music on the computer for 3 minutes.
  7. Have students write down as many numbers from Test 2 in order as he or she remembers.  This may also be completed orally.
  8. Analyze the data and draw a conclusion.

Results 

Conclusion

Listening to music helps people perform better on memory tests.

NGSS Standards:

By Laura Hospitál

collage of testing the effect of music on memory

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