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Stimulus Predictability and Liking Enhance Auditory-Motor Encoding and Memory for Melodies
Alexander W Albury1,2, Roberta Bianco3, Aaron P Johnson1
1Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|June 2, 2026
Summary
Musical predictability and pleasure enhance learning and memory for melodies. Increased arousal, linked to these factors, improves auditory encoding, motor skills, and recognition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Music Cognition
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Anticipating musical events enhances music enjoyment and memory.
- The role of predictability and pleasure in learning to play music is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate how musical predictability and pleasure affect melody learning in nonmusicians.
- Examine the influence of these factors on post-learning recall and attention.
Main Methods:
- Participants rated melody pleasure and predictability.
- Pupil dilation measured attention and arousal during listening.
- Motor learning and recall assessed after learning melody endings.
Main Results:
- Pupil dilation correlated with predictability and liking.
- Predictable melodies led to better motor learning (lower asynchrony).
- Liked melodies showed steeper learning slopes; predictable melodies improved recall.
Conclusions:
- Arousal links predictability and pleasure to auditory encoding and motor learning.
- Predictability and pleasure are crucial for learning and remembering music.
- Individual differences in arousal and learning relate to recognition performance.
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