#MusicAndMemory

New neuroscience suggests music can actively reshape memory by coloring recollections with the emotions of the surrounding soundtrack. In a study published in Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, researchers found that listening to music during memory recall can add new emotional details to neutral memories, rather than simply reviving them.

For Thai readers, where music anchors national ceremonies, religious rituals, education, and daily life, these findings have wide-reaching significance. The results offer scientific support for the long-observed emotional effects of Thai classical, pop, and religious music, while hinting at practical use for therapy, classrooms, and everyday listening.

Neuroscience is uncovering surprising powers of music, with new research showing that music can actively reshape memory and infuse it with new emotions—potentially opening novel doors in therapeutic, educational, and cultural settings. A recent neuroimaging study published in the journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience reveals that listening to music while recalling memories does more than simply bring back old feelings—it can actually rewrite neutral memories with the emotional color of the background music.