Implicit and explicit memory for music in old and young adults

Author(s): Peretz, I.

Journal/Book: Brain Cognition. 1999; 40: 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA. Academic Press Inc. 126-129.

Abstract: The effect of aging on implicit and explicit memory was studied with familiar and unfamiliar melodies. After a study phase, implicit memory was assessed with an affect task in which subjects rated their liking of each melody. Explicit memory was assessed with a recognition task. In the affect task, both old and young adults exhibited higher preference for studied than nonstudied unfamiliar melodies, whereas they equally liked familiar melodies. In the recognition task, familiar melodies were best recognized, with the elderly performing significantly worse than the young adults. The results support the notion that the aging process spares implicit memory but impairs explicit memory, extending the dissociation to the auditory nonverbal domain.

Note: Article Gaudreau D, Univ Montreal, Quebec City, PQ, CANADA

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