Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026
07:01
Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
5.4K
Self-regulation and working memory in musical performers
Cynthia M Killough1, Laura A Thompson1, Gin Morgan1
1New Mexico State University, USA.
Psychology of Music
|September 23, 2015
Summary
Musically experienced performers better manage stress, showing improved working memory and cortisol regulation compared to novices. This suggests musical training enhances cognitive resilience under pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Music performance science
- Neuroscience of stress
Background:
- Performance-related stress negatively impacts cognition, especially working memory.
- Physiological stress responses, including cortisol and sympathetic nervous system activity, are implicated.
- Musical experience may influence stress regulation and cognitive performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of musical experience on stress response and working memory.
- To compare physiological and psychological stress markers between musicians with varying experience levels.
- To determine if musical experience modulates working memory performance under acute stress.
Main Methods:
- An audition-like performance task was used to induce a stress response.
- Participants were categorized based on their degree of musical experience (more vs. less).
- Measurements included cortisol levels, sympathetic nervous system activity, self-reported anxiety/insecurity, and working memory capacity.
Main Results:
- More experienced performers reported less insecurity post-stress.
- Experienced musicians demonstrated superior regulation of their cortisol response.
- Working memory performance was significantly better in more experienced performers after the stressor.
Conclusions:
- Musical experience is associated with enhanced stress regulation, particularly cortisol response.
- Greater musical experience correlates with improved working memory capacity under performance stress.
- Training and experience in music may confer resilience to cognitive deficits induced by acute stress.
More Related Videos
09:05Assessing Working Memory in Children: The Comprehensive Assessment Battery for Children – Working Memory (CABC-WM)
Published on: June 12, 2017
31.2K
14:24An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze
Published on: July 29, 2025
1.9K
Related Concept Videos
01:25Self-Regulation
323
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
323
01:24Working Memory
1.2K
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
1.2K
01:30Information Processing Approach
795
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
795
01:24Strategies of Self-Presentation III: Self-Monitoring
392
Self-monitoring is a central construct in understanding individual differences in self-presentation strategies across social contexts. It refers to how individuals observe, regulate, and control their expressive behavior and self-presentation following situational cues. Self-monitoring reflects a person's sensitivity to social appropriateness and willingness to adapt behavior to fit varying interpersonal demands.High vs. Low Self-Monitoring IndividualsIndividuals high in self-monitoring are...
392
01:26Metacognition
1.1K
Metacognition is a conscious process where individuals are aware of their cognitive and executive processes, such as planning before solving a problem or self-monitoring during reading. For instance, a writer may need help with composing a piece. The situation involves a writer who is working on a piece of writing, but while doing so, they realize that something is missing. They notice that their characters lack depth or details. This realization occurs because the writer is reflecting on their...
1.1K
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.5K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.5K