We compared young adults’ autobiographical (AB) memories involving Music to memories concerning other specific categories and to Everyday AB memories with no specific cue. In all cases, participants reported both their most vivid memory and another AB memory from approximately the same time. We analyzed responses via quantitative ratings scales on aspects such as vividness and importance, as well as via qualitative thematic coding. In the initial phase, comparison of Music-related to Everyday memories suggested all Musical memories had high emotional and vividness characteristics whereas Everyday memories elicited emotion and other heightened responses only in the “vivid” instruction condition. However, when we added two other specific AB categories (Dining and Holidays) in phase two, the Music memories were no longer unique. We offer these results as a cautionary tale: before concluding that music is special in its relationship to cognition, perception, or emotion, studies should include appropriate control conditions.
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June 2018
Research Article|
June 01 2018
Are Musical Autobiographical Memories Special? It Ain’t Necessarily So
Andrea R. Halpern,
Bucknell University
Andrea R. Halpern, Department of Psychology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, 17837. E-mail: ahalpern@bucknell.edu
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Jennifer M. Talarico,
Jennifer M. Talarico
Lafayette College
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Victoria J. Williamson
Victoria J. Williamson
University of Sheffield
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Andrea R. Halpern, Department of Psychology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, 17837. E-mail: ahalpern@bucknell.edu
Music Perception (2018) 35 (5): 561–572.
Article history
Received:
May 31 2017
Accepted:
December 09 2017
Citation
Andrea R. Halpern, Jennifer M. Talarico, Nura Gouda, Victoria J. Williamson; Are Musical Autobiographical Memories Special? It Ain’t Necessarily So. Music Perception 1 June 2018; 35 (5): 561–572. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/mp.2018.35.5.561
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