Exceptional Preservation of Memory for Tunes and Lyrics: Case Studies of Amusia, Profound Deafness, and Alzheimer's Disease

Journal

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Year

2009

Abstract

Four elderly persons with neurologic impairments of differing etiology and differing cognitive profiles presented unexpected patterns of memory for tunes and song lyrics. Impairments included profound deafness, right-hemisphere stroke, and dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Patterns for the impaired individuals differed according to the disorder, but each person had some scores within the range for 90 healthy seniors. We suggest implications for models of brain organization for musical memory.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Alzheimer's and Related Dementias; Cognitive Abilities; Elderly; Hearing Loss; Memory; Neurodegenerative Disorders; Song Reminiscence; Stroke

Indexed Terms

Elderly; Elderly; Alzheimer Disease; Auditory Perceptual Disorders; Deafness; Memory

Study Type

Case Study; Qualitative Methods

PubMed ID

19673796

Document Type

Article

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