Does music have a more powerful effect on memory than images, words, or smells?

We need more stories llike this at current_. Understanding, research and thoughtful discussion.

Just read Pythagoras's Theory on music, music is an inter-multi dimensional force, that effects the mind body and soul, some musical notes correlate to planetary phenomena as well as certain colors and signals that trigger responses.

I don't know about smell and music but that picture up top is sure as hell going to burn itself into my brain

Ha. Totally. My dad always says that when 'Band on the Run' comes on the radio its like he's transported back 1974. He's says its like he can almost feel those itchy polyester pants his parents made him wear.

i think this would be true.. listening to old tunes can be very nostalgic

The fact that music makes me remember images, words, & smells from the past, might very well mean that it does.

There are certain songs from my past that everytime I hear them I am almost taken back in time to the place where I first heard them. Probably the song that has the most effect on me is Asia's Heat Of The Moment. Everytime I hear the first few notes of this song it's almost an out of body experience. These songs act as markers in our lives when we step from one of lifes plateaus to the next. I would have to say there are more songs that effect me in this strange way than there are smells, words or images combined.

Maybe teachers should be required to sing their lessons. I'd retain more information and be more apt to stay awake if that was the case.

I love this. Do you ever stop to realize when an older song comes on the radio that you still know every word, and your fingers are drumming to the beat subconsciously? It's marvelous how that happens. I sure know that all the songs my history class group partners made up with me helped us for our quizzes this year.

I think that in certain cases music does have an overwhelming effect on memory over the other sense. I don't think it's limited to just music though, distinct sounds in general can trigger things.

The sound of cicadas is a personal example of mine.

"The research team collected over 1,500 "preview" clips from the iTunes Music Store's listing of the top 100 pop and R&B songs from each year over the past couple decades."

And in a related story, the RIAA has filed a multi-million dollar law suit against UC Davis...

Seriously, though, last summer, in order to clear some space off of a shelf, I decided to transfer dozens of old mixed tapes I had from college over a decade ago to mp3. I had a beautiful time.

"Does music have a more powerful effect on memory than other influences, like images, words, or smells?"

Absolutely.

I always think its interesting how many songs, beats, and ryhthms are catalouged in our minds and how easily they are retrieved.

Smells burn themselves into our memories too but more often than not its much harder to place their origins.

There are some folks in recovery from drug abuse who can't listen to certain tunes without having "euphoric recall". The songs trigger strong reactions associated with being high.
The power of music, indeed.
(Pink Floyd, anyone?)

When I listen to music I see colors and images-- often not related to my past at all. That's how I get inspiration for paintings.

Music survives even when language doesn't. That fact alone should tell us something about the power of music.

There is a heirarchy, I don't think music has more powerful effect than smells but it does more than images or words. Images have a more powerful effect than words.

I know it does for me. I can give you many songs that give me a feeling of walking in the grass when I was 3 years old.

...And You Will Know Us After The Trail Of Dead... has a song called "Summer Of '91." I was born that fall, but that song just takes me to memories I wouldn't remember otherwise. It's an amazing feeling.

i honestly believe it depends based on how a person thinks naturally, i happen to be a more music oriented thinker, meaning i can link almost anything(memories, events, smells, tastes Ect...) to a song, but i know people who are more sight oriented, or even more mathematically oriented, everyone is different.

music has changed my life in so many ways...and it affects my moods

nah, i'll pass on this one. the study doesn't sound convincing, and it's just too hard to test his theory with such a small sample size. music is most likely just another attribute or detail when retrieving a memory.

im thinking of seinfeld and the episode where elaines boyfriend gets all emotional everytime he hears desperado.

personally all i have to do to get energized is listen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj9yqnJsrEM

also if i ever hear "never gunna give you up" i know ive been rick rolld and begin to feel incredibly angry.

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Very yes.

If I'm listening to a specific album when studying a specific subject in school, I can usually recall the tunes while I'm taking the exam, and it helps me remember some of what I studied.

I think all of our senses work together to create and remember memories. Some just overpower others at times, but in the end, they all remind us of something at some point or another.

music puts you in that place more than anything

i have basically no visual memories of my chilhood, although i know/remember the words of my mothers favourie songs which she playes when i was a baby