Headspace_logo_svg
Try for freeTry for free
VideoDoes Music Improve Memory?

Does Music Improve Memory?

John Legend and cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Yewande Pearse discuss the ways music impacts your ability to create and retain memories.

Try 14 days free
Share:

Better mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.

Better mental health starts with Headspace

You remember the game memory from when you were a kid? This is very similar to that. So we're gonna try to find the matching squares. Just going to start turning things over! Hey, we're almost there. And we have solved the puzzle. I'm John Legend, chief music officer at Headspace and I'm hosting a new series about the different ways that music can improve our lives. (upbeat violin music) Music and memory are intertwined for me, like DNA. Have you ever had a song transport you to a specific time and place? Like something picked you up and took you somewhere else. I met with Dr. Yewande Pearse. So we're gonna to do a demonstration. And in this demonstration we want to see what the impact of music is on your memory recall. Okay! I'm gonna tell you two stories. The first story I'm gonna read to you, and then the second story I'm actually gonna attempt to sing. All right, the first story, John. Susan's son Gary went to band practice every Friday at two. He liked going to the field behind his school and playing the drums. One day, he hit the drum so heavily that it broke open in front of five older students practicing football. The band teacher overheard loud laughing, came over and gave him a new drum. So John, tell me the story back again. Okay! So, Susan has a son named Gary that was going to band practice at two o'clock And he was practicing in a field that was near where the football players played. And he banged on the drum so hard that he broke the drum and... Okay! Let's do the second story now. Okay! So this is me telling you a different story, but this time I'm gonna songify the story. ♪ Steve's daughter Lauren played tennis ♪ ♪ Every Wednesday at four. ♪ ♪ She enjoyed going to the courts ♪ ♪ Next to her house and meeting her friends. ♪ ♪ One day she smacked the ball so hard ♪ ♪ That it went over the park fence ♪ ♪ Where two small beagles resided. ♪ ♪ The beagle's owner heard intense howling, ♪ ♪ Showed up, lent a hand, and threw her back the ball. ♪ Okay, John, what was the story? Okay! So now we have different names. Steve, who has a daughter, and I forget her name. And she likes to go play tennis at four o'clock on a certain day of the week, which I forget. And then she was hitting the balls. It went over the fence to the neighbor's dog and the dog, the beagle was howling. And, yeah the neighbor was not happy about that. So John, I recorded you recalling both stories. I'm gonna go away, I'm gonna score them, and then we'll see how you did on both of those. So before I give you the results, (John laughs) how do you feel like you did? Some of the...

Details

TypeVideo
Duration5 min

About your teachers

  • A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.

    More about Andy
  • Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.

    More about Eve
  • As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.

    More about Dora
  • Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.

    More about Kessonga
  • Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.

    More about Rosie
Your lifelong guide to better mental health

Your lifelong guide to better mental health

Stress, sleep, and all the challenging emotions — care for your mind with the everyday mental health app that's shown to make a difference.

Try 14 days free
Look After Your Mind

Look after your mind

Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges

Science Backed

Science-backed

Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being

Explore Content

Explore 1000+ 
expert-led exercises

Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.

Member reviews

Hear from some of our members

Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.

Rachel

UK

Member-Icon-01

Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.

Davide

London

Member-Icon-04

The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.

Alicia

Canada

Member-Icon-03

Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

Keri

UK

Member-Icon-02

More to explore

Beginning Meditation

Explore-More-Icon-02

Reframe Stress and Relax

Explore-More-Icon-01

New and Popular

Explore-More-Icon-03

Becoming a Mindful Parent

Explore-More-Icon-04
    • Terms & conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Consumer Health Data
    • Your privacy choices
      Privacy Choices Icon
    • CA Privacy Notice
  • © 2024 Headspace Inc.
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Consumer Health Data
  • Your privacy choices
    Privacy Choices Icon
  • CA Privacy Notice