The cognitive characteristics of music‐evoked autobiographical memories: Evidence from a systematic review of clinical investigations

Abstract

In healthy adults, autobiographical memories (AMs) evoked by music appear to have unique cognitive characteristics that set them apart from AMs evoked by other cues. If this is the case, we might expect music cues to alleviate AM deficits in clinical disorders. This systematic review examines music-evoked autobiographical memories (MEAMs) in clinical populations, focusing on cognitive characteristics, and whether MEAMs differ from AMs evoked by other stimuli.We identified 15 studies featuring participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD), behavioral variant -Frontotemporal dementia (bv-FTD), acquired brain damage, and depression. We found that music evokes AMs in these disorders, and that familiar music was more likely to evoke AMs. Compared with healthy controls, AD participants had a relative advantage for MEAMs over picture-evoked AMs. People with damage to the medial prefrontal cortex showed preserved access to MEAMs in terms of frequency, but a relative disadvantage regarding the episodic richness for MEAMs, but not for memories cued by pictures, compared to controls. Participants with bv-FTD had fewer AMs evoked after both music and pictures than healthy controls. Across conditions, MEAMs were generally specific and retrieved fast, suggesting little retrieval effort. MEAMs were also positive, except in depression, where as many negative as positive AMs were produced. These findings suggest several underlying cognitive and affective mechanisms of MEAMs, including anxiety reduction, increased fluency, musicevoked emotions, reminiscence, and involuntary retrieval, and that these might be moderated by musical abilities and memory for music. In conclusion, MEAMs appear to be relatively well preserved, especially in AD.

The interdisciplinary science of autobiographical memory

“…The link between autobiographical memory and the self is assessed through the perspectives of function and dysfunction by Brown (2023) and by Bulteau et al (2023), respectively. Similarly, autobiographical specificity is addressed within the framework of psychiatry (by Barry et al, 2023; Brown, 2023; Bulteau et al, 2023) and neurology (by Fan et al, 2023; Irish, 2023; Kaiser & Berntsen, 2023; Markowitsch & Staniloiu, 2023). As for autobiographical memory, it is investigated through the perspectives of developmental psychology (Fivush & Grysman, 2023), social psychology (Heux et al, 2023), experimental psychology (Sow et al, 2023), and philosophy (Moulin et al, 2023).…”

“…Irish also proposes interesting avenues for research targeting autobiographical rehabilitation. In the same vein, Kaiser and Berntsen (2023) dedicate their contribution to music‐evoked autobiographical memories, demonstrating how music may enhance autobiographical retrieval in patients with Alzheimer's disease, in those with behavioral variant‐frontotemporal dementia and even in those with depression. Beyond analyzing the literature on music‐evoked autobiographical memories, they propose a model in which preserved music abilities strengthen the effects of music on autobiographical retrieval in patients with amnesia.…”

“…memory in dementiaKaiser and Berntsen (2023) Music-evoked autobiographical memories in dementiaMarkowitsch and Staniloiu (2023) Neurological and psychiatric disruptions of autobiographical memory Moulin et al (2023) Contribution of phenomenology to the study of autobiographical memory Sow et al (2023) Developments of function of autobiographical memory Talarico (2023) Tetrahedral model of autobiographical memory…”

Comparing music‐ and food‐evoked autobiographical memories in young and older adults: A diary study

“…Music also appears to be a particularly effective cue for positive autobiographical memories (Jakubowski & Eerola, 2021; Janata et al, 2007) that are intimately connected to one's sense of identity (Lamont & Loveday, 2020; Loveday et al, 2020). In addition, music may be a means of spared access to autobiographical memories in comparison to other cues (e.g., verbal prompts) in certain clinical populations, in particular people with Alzheimer's disease (Kaiser & Berntsen, 2022). However, there is a lack of empirical evidence on the everyday experience of MEAMs (beyond the laboratory), particularly in relation to other types of memories and healthy ageing.…”

“…However, Jakubowski et al (2021) used a retrospective survey for reporting memory experiences, and thus no previous research has compared the experience of MEAMs to other autobiographical memories across different age groups as they occur in everyday life. In light of research suggesting music may be a means of spared access to autobiographical memories compared to other cues in older adults with Alzheimer's disease (Kaiser & Berntsen, 2022), it is important to consider whether MEAMs might be particularly resistant to age‐related changes in healthy adults as well.…”