Yiren Ren, a Ph.D. student in the School of Psychology at Georgia Tech, has conducted research exploring the impact of music on learning and memory. She has authored two papers that examine how music can influence memory modulation in everyday and clinical applications. One study focuses on how music affects the quality of memory formation, while the other looks at how music can reshape emotions attached to existing memories. Ren investigates the role of music in modulating memory and emotions, offering insights into potential therapeutic applications in mental health.
In one study, Ren and her collaborators conducted an experiment involving 44 Georgia Tech students who listened to film soundtracks while recalling a difficult memory. The participants incorporated new emotions into their memories that matched the mood of the music they listened to. The study revealed that music could significantly impact the emotional tone of memories, with lasting effects observed even a day later. The research team used fMRI imaging to observe altered brain activity in participants, highlighting the role music can play in altering existing memories.
Ren’s interest in combining music and neuroscience stems from her background as a musician and a psychology student. She is passionate about exploring how music therapy can be designed to help individuals with mood disorders, such as PTSD or depression, by reshaping the emotional tone of memories. While it is not possible to change the emotional content of memories as they are being formed, music can be used to retrieve old memories and potentially shift feelings associated with them.
The second study conducted by Ren focused on examining the impact of familiar and unfamiliar music on learning and memory. Participants were tasked with learning sequences of abstract shapes while listening to different types of music. The study found that familiar, predictable music helped participants learn and remember the sequences quicker by creating a structured framework for the new information. In contrast, music that was familiar but irregular hindered participants’ ability to learn. Ren emphasizes the importance of examining how music influences memory and behavior at a neural level to better understand its mechanisms.
Ren is set to complete her Ph.D. studies in December and is eager to continue her research in postdoctoral positions. She aims to develop music-based therapies for mental health conditions like depression and PTSD while exploring rehabilitation strategies for aging populations and individuals with dementia. Ren hopes that her research on the impact of music on memory will contribute valuable evidence to support the development of innovative interventions for mental health and cognitive function. By combining her passion for music with a scholarly approach to memory modulation, Ren is poised to make significant contributions to the field of psychological research.