Why can we recall specific memories through music?

By: Vivian Pham, Staff Writer

Have you ever wondered why music can help you recall specific memories from the past? Human memory is an incredibly complex mechanism. It could be precisely explicit and detailed, but it could sometimes be distorted and unreliable. We usually remember the negative memory, and yet we can easily forget even the simplest things like other people’s names or a phone number. 

Illustration by Janne Kokkonen

The way that we recall memories is just as complex as its mechanism. Occasionally, we would unconsciously dream about a memory or even associate it with smells or music. For example, lots of people can recall being excited and rushing out of the house for ice cream when they hear the music from the ice cream truck. 

Our brain can easily retrieve memories based on rhythms

The hippocampus, embedded deep into the temporal lobe, plays a major role in forming new memories, storing, and retrieving. That’s why for Alzheimer’s patients, because the hippocampus is damaged, they cannot store and retrieve the new memories causing them to instantly forget things that just happened and still be able to recall old memories. 

However, we experienced countless experiences and events in our lifetime, and the amount of memories formed is massive. Therefore, retrieving them is not always an easy job for the hippocampus, that’s when music steps in and does its magic. Music will then become one of the tools that help you “unlock” memories through encoded “signals”. These “signals” include melody, rhythms, and images that relate to the lyrics. Research also showed that music enhances neuronal connection at the hippocampus, increasing musicians’ ability to recall memories related to familiar melodies. Basically, it’s like how you recall the alphabet by humming the “ABC song” or a name of a singer through a catchy chorus they sang. 

Music activates emotions enclosed with the memory

When you listen to a song with an explicit emotion, such as the song you listened to after a breakup, you will recall that sad feeling every time you listen to it as a classical conditioning. This can be explained through the impact of music on the amygdala, which is primarily responsible for processing emotions. The more emotions attached with your memory, the easỉer you can recall it. Many research studies demonstrated the vital role of emotions in different stages of memorization from encoding, consolidating, to recalling. 

Music activates the motion enclosed with the memory

Besides from the hippocampus and the amygdala, music also activates the cerebellum, which is responsible for motor control and movement direction. For instance, when you play an instrument or dance, the cerebellum helps with motion control, balancing, and combination of different movements, as well as remembering and perfecting them. Therefore, memories regarding the motion associated with music are easier to recall. In several studies regarding dementia, there are cases where patients, despite being unable to recall any past memories, were still able to play the piano skillfully. 

 Due to the complex relationship with the brain, music (beside its entertaining features) can be applied to different fields such as education, medical, or just simply help with relaxation and enhancing the ability to focus. 

Empanada Express Grill Review

By Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer

Ground beef and potato empanada with Tequenos (Venezuelan cheese sticks).

Photo by Madelynn Loring

I discovered Empanada Express Grill in the same way I have discovered a number of restaurants: I was planning on going somewhere else (Himalayan Spice to be exact), but something came up. In this case, the Himalayan Spice kitchen was closed for maintenance. So, I turned to my best in a decision-making crisis, Google Maps, and just five minutes north was a quaint-looking Venezuelan restaurant. We decided to give it a shot, and, as is often the case on Tennyson Street, Empanada Express Grill did not disappoint.

In my experience, you can tell how good the food at any restaurant will be by the decor, and the traditional clothing and artwork lining the walls prepares you for exactly how delicious the food will be. The plates are huge, and loaded with beans, rice, and a Venezuelan entree of your choice. Regardless of whether you go for an arepa or an empanada, you will not be disappointed. The filling is beautifully seasoned, and the dish is cooked to perfection. 

Shredded beef arepa with beans and rice

Photo by Madelynn Loring

Additionally, they have a large vegetarian selection, so most anyone will be able to find an absolutely remarkable meal that fits their dietary needs. The only exception to this is if you are a lactose intolerant person who actually respects their lactose intolerance. Each dish is filled or topped with cheese, which is delightful if you are a dairy lover like myself. However, if a spoonful of ice cream sends your stomach into fits, you might want to skip out on this grill in favor of something less dairy heavy. But who am I to tell you what to avoid? For a more relevant opinion, I consulted my lactose intolerant friend who says that Empanada Express Grill is worth the stomachache. 

Chicken empanada with beans and rice

Photo by Madelynn Loring

Should you choose to embark on an empanada expedition, here are some tips to make your Express Grill experience go smoothly. As it is “where the locals eat'', the staff primarily speaks Spanish. Thus, it is a good idea to brush up on your restaurant vocab before you go, or go with a Spanish-speaking friend, as I did (though neither of us knew she was going to be translating for us). Secondly, the cost of a good empanada is often oil stains, something I learned the hard way through the marring of my favorite cream-colored sweatshirt. Dark clothes are likely the better choice for your meal. Finally, the restaurant prefers you pay in cash, so it is worth stopping by an ATM on your way to avoid the hassle, especially if you do not have a card that you can tap to pay. 

Overall, my experience at Empanada Express Grill left nothing to be desired, except for perhaps that Regis’s global section could compare to this absolutely delightful restaurant. Though it may be unassuming at first glance, Empanada Express Grill is sure to impress regardless of whether you planned to end up there or not.