Bringing Memories to Life Through Music
Ashna N -
Hey everyone! For my first observation, I had the opportunity to visit a Memory Café, a space designed for individuals with Alzheimer’s to engage in social and cognitive activities. Walking in, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but by the end of the session, I saw firsthand the incredible impact of music on memory, coordination, and emotional well-being.
The session was led by Julia Legler, the coordinator, who played the guitar alongside Tiffany Hsu, a student from ASU. The target era for the music was the 1960s—a period that many of the patients connected with deeply. As soon as the music started, I noticed something fascinating: even before patients verbally responded, their bodies reacted. Some started tapping their feet, their eyes lit up with recognition, and their facial expressions softened as they engaged with familiar melodies.
One of the most powerful observations was the concept of entrainment—the brain’s ability to synchronize with external rhythms. This was evident throughout the session as patients instinctively moved in time with the music. Whether it was tapping their heels, swaying to the guitar strumming, or drumming along to the beat, their bodies seemed to naturally align with the rhythm. The coordinator used this principle to guide interactive exercises—such as calling out numbers to a beat or suddenly stopping movement—to enhance coordination and cognitive processing.
Different instruments were incorporated throughout the session—guitar, hand drums, and maracas. The guitar strumming set the foundation, while the hand drums helped emphasize syllables in words. One interactive activity had patients repeating the rhythm of blue-ber-ry-ice-cream, reinforcing both musical rhythm and cognitive recall. Entrainment was particularly noticeable here, as patients would unconsciously match their movements to the rhythm, demonstrating how deeply ingrained musical timing can be in the brain.
Beyond movement, I also noticed how response timing played a role in engagement. Some patients took a moment before reacting, as if their brains were processing the melody before responding. Others smiled immediately upon hearing a familiar tune, while some would join in only after others started singing. This delay in reaction highlighted how music travels through memory pathways in different ways for each individual.
Facial expressions also told their own story. Even those who didn’t sing along often displayed signs of recognition—raised eyebrows, widening eyes, or a small smile when a familiar song played. When I asked Julia which artist resonated the most, she immediately mentioned Frank Sinatra. If patients recognized a song or artist, they would instinctively start singing, a beautiful reminder of how music can reignite long-forgotten memories.
To wrap up the session, we played a round of music trivia featuring 1960s hits like These Boots Are Made for Walkin’, All You Need Is Love, Love Me Tender, and What a Wonderful World. Even if they didn’t remember the full lyrics, many responded with enthusiasm, proving that music engages the brain in ways that go beyond verbal recall.
Since this was a patient-centered environment, I wasn’t allowed to take pictures or interact with the patients physically, meaning quantitative data collection was out of the question. Instead, I had to rely on careful observation of nonverbal cues—facial expressions, eye movement, and rhythmic responses—to assess how patients engaged with the music. However, I will be able to get more data(BP, pulse, etc) in different sessions!!
While my observations can be subjective, seeing the way patients responded—whether through singing, tapping, or simply brightening up—made it clear that rhythm and melody play a powerful role in reconnecting them with their memories. Watching the patients interact with music in such a natural, instinctive way was incredibly moving. This experience reinforced just how powerful music therapy can be—not just in rekindling memories, but in strengthening the mind-body connection through rhythm and movement. I’m excited to continue exploring this in my senior project and see what more I can learn in the coming weeks :))
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