Music, Memory, and Relatedness

Abstract

This article examines the role of music and musical speech as transitional phenomena, as facilitators of early dyadic and later relationships, as aids to the development of memory, and as assisting in the self-definition of individuals and groups. It draws on literature from psychoanalysis, developmental psychology, and neuroscience, and presents illustrations from individual development as well as cultural phenomena. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Key words: memory, music, prosody, psychoanalysis, relatedness, transitional object Articles and books concerning music and psychoanalysis have recently appeared with increasing frequency in the psychoanalytic literature, enlarging our understanding of music (Nagel, 2013), musical associations and technique (Lipson, 2006), mourning (Stein, 2004), and aesthetics (Rose, 2004). I have been surprised at the relative infrequency of direct musical associations (apart from song lyrics) in the psychoanalyses and psychotherapies I have conducted, despite having an open ear to them. Nonetheless, even when they are not in the foreground, I believe that musical influences may be present more than is sometimes apparent. While there are innumerable psychoanalytic articles concerning non-verbal communication, it may be useful to consider this matter specifically in relation to music. Musical, non-verbal aspects of speech, including pitch contours, rhythm, timbre, and tone of voice, convey a great deal of the emotional communication of speech, and speech that lacks them sounds monotone and uninformative. Both music and musical aspects of speech play major roles in the development of human individuals, the development and cohesion of human groups, and they likely have significantly influenced the development of our species. In this article I will focus on the relation of music to development, memory, and relatedness.

The Effects of Intuitive Movement Reembodiment on the Quality of Life of Older Adults With Dementia: A Pilot Study

“… 12 , 13 In music, duplicate elements and structured patterns contribute to the development of memory as transitional objects in brain. 14 During an IMR session, consistent repetitive patterns of melody and rhythm foster the effectiveness in improving the passivity of people with dementia in receiving information. Additionally, the time–energy–space concepts of the Rhythmics concept were engaged to stimulate the participants’ spontaneous physical responses by enhancing their concentration in listening to music and thinking.…”