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The Cognitive Psychology of Memory: Why We Forget Studied Material but Remember Songs

1Foundations of Memory2Encoding and Retrieval3Theories of Forgetting4Interference and Forgetting5Consolidation and Sleep6Musical Memory: An Overview7Why Songs Stick: Mechanisms8Comparing Memory for Studied Material and Songs9Practical Implications for Learning10Synthesis and Application
Musical Memory: An Overview

Implicit Memory and Music

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Implicit memory is automatic. You can hum a song from childhood without trying, because it was encoded through exposure. This contrasts with the effortful encoding often needed for studied material.
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Implicit Memory at Work

Implicit memory is unconscious and automatic. We learn songs without trying, and the melody and lyrics are stored implicitly. This is why you can sing along to a song you haven't heard in years.

Humming a Forgotten Tune

You might not remember studying for a test, but you can hum a song from childhood. That's implicit memory: the song was encoded automatically through exposure, without conscious effort.

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