Experiment No.

Effect of music on Auditory Memory Span for Digits

 Introduction

Memory span is defined as the number of discrete elements grasped in a given moment of

attention and organized in a unity for purposes of immediate reproduction or immediate use, is

determined in various ways.

Memory span is the longest list of items that a person can repeat back in correct order

immediately after presentation on 50% of all trials. Items may include words, numbers, or letters.

The task is known as digit span when numbers are used. Memory span is a common measure

of short-term memory. It is also a component of cognitive ability tests.

Functionally, memory span is used to measure the number of discrete units over which

the individual can successively distribute their attention and still organize them into a working

unit. To generalize, it refers to the ability of an individual to reproduce immediately, after one

presentation, a series of discrete stimuli in their original order.

Humpstone (1919) broadened this definition when he described memory span as the

ability to grasp a number of discrete units in a single moment of attention and to reproduce them

immediately.

Hunter (1929) shows that attention span and memory span are alike in involving only one

presentation of the stimulus, but that they differ in temporal duration of the stimulus. If the

stimulus is presented for one-fiftieth of a second, the experiment is classified as one on attention,

whereas with longer exposure times, the behavior is classified as memory.

The speed with which the stimuli are presented has an effect on the memory span score

attained. Peatman and Locke (1934) experimentally showed that the best rate of presentation for
digits by either the audio-vocal or visual method was one digit per two-thirds of a second to one

digit per second.

It has already been noted that presenting the units in the series of stimuli by any method

of grouping or rhythm will enable the subject to secure a higher memory span than they would

otherwise have. Often the subjects themselves are entirely responsible for grouping the units, and

may thus increase their apparent memory span. According to Martin and Fernberger (1929) it

was noted that any memory span over 5 was secured through subjective grouping of the units.

In the nineteenth century, Ebbinghaus (1850–1909; 1885/1964 as cited in Richardson,

2007) was the first cognitive scientist to show how span could be used as an experimental

paradigm to investigate memory and learning.

The Digit Sequencing or Digit Span test is one of the main tools developed to measure

one’s verbal working memory. The test was originally designed to test working memory and

attention, as part of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Usually, the examiner reads a list of

numbers, and the participant repeats them until an incorrect answer is given (Blackburn, 1957).

Sometimes the participant is asked to repeat the sequence of digits backward. The average score

for adults is to recall between eight and ten digits forward and between seven and nine digits

backward (Lezak, 2004).

Initially, the test was designed to test working memory along with attention, as attention

is a crucial aspect of one’s cognitive functioning and everyday life. Researchers have observed a

decline in performance when one’s experiencing stress. Thus, it’s believed that there’s a link

between the two (Lezak, 2004).

 Chua etal., (2020) investigated the effect of music on short term memory with use of digit

span. For this 120 college students were selected from which 37 were females and 83 were

females. Participants were divided in control or experimental group through randomization. Both

groups underwent digit span test in experimental group background rock music is provided.

Results showed that background music effect the short term memory because those students who

done digit span test in presence of music have score less than students who had no background

music while performing digit span test.

Past literature has suggested that background music, in particular vocal music, can have
a significantly
detrimental effect on working memory performance (Alley and Greene 2008; Salame and
Baddeley 1989).
Past literature has suggested that background music in particular vocal music can have a

significantly detrimental effect on working memory performance (Alley & Greene, 2008; Salame

& Baddeley, 1989).The memory span is affected by the presence of background music. As

evidenced by Waters (2013) in his research on the effect of vocal music on working memory

performance. Digit span test was used for the assessment of working memory. A 3x1 within

subjects-design was conducted, with 36 university undergraduate students completing three

Reading Span Tests. They were provided with three conditions; without music, with instrumental

music and with vocal music. But the prediction of that study was not met because the significant

difference between silent, instrumental and vocal music was not found. The results showed that

there was however a significant difference between performance in the silent and vocal music

conditions. The performance was best in silent condition.

Musliu et al. (2017) in their research aim to investigate if music can help to memorize

different tests like nonsense syllables, numbers, and rhyming poems. Students participating in

this experiment were from different faculties (N = 74, 75% females) between the ages of 18-22
years old. Students were divided into three balanced groups. This was done in order to have three

groups with students who showed almost the same prior memory test score. Then, three other

tests were administered. The first group was taking the tests without music at all and in silence,

the second group was taking the tests while listening to lyrical music, and the third group while

listening to relaxing music. All three groups had five minutes to memorize whatever was

required from each of the three different tests. This study concluded that music affects memory

negatively. This means that students who were not listening to any kind of music were able to

memorize and recall more items. This study also concluded that silence helps to detect and

memorize the same nonsense syllables more than while being distracted with music. When it

comes to memorizing better keep the music down.

 Method

Objective

To find out the effect of music on auditory memory span for digits.

Hypotheses

● Music significantly affects the auditory memory span for digits.

● Music in the background causes the auditory memory span for digits to decrease.

Material

Speakers, digit span test, pencil, paper, stopwatch.

Research Design

Between group design is used in this experiment. Participants were divided randomly into

two groups i.e., experimental group and control group. In present study, music was our

independent variable and auditory memory span for digits was dependent variable.To comply

this, instructions were provided and informed consent was obtained from all the subjects.

Sample of the Study

Our sample consisted of 20 students of BS 1st semester from Govt. Viqar Un Nisa

Postgraduate College (W), randomly assigned 10 participants in the experimental group and 10

participants in control group.The variables such as age, gender and education of the subjects

were controlled by making constant for all subjects.

Procedure

We investigated whether music effects the auditory memory span for digits of

participants. Between subject design was used.All the conditions given to the participant were

same in all aspects. All extraneous variables like light, noise, instructions were constant.

Participants were seated in a comfortable position. Paper pencil was provided to them.

Music was provided only to the experimental group. Participants of experimental group were

asked to memorize the 4 digits number that was vocalized to them in the presence of music

(national song) and control group without any music. Total 7 pairs of digits were provided to

each student. Scores were noted on each trial.

 Results

Table 1

Auditory Memory Span for Digits of control and experimental group.

Sr. No Control Group Experimental Group

1. 6 5

2. 6 4

3. 5 5

4. 7 3

5. 6 5

6. 6 5

7. 5 4

8. 5 4

9. 6 4

10. 5 3

Table 1 shows correct responses given by the participants of the control group and

experimental group in which control group scored high as compared to experimental group.
Table 2

Mean scores of Control Group and Experimental Group.

Groups Total score Mean value

Control Group 57 5.7

Experimental Group 42 4.2

Table 2 shows the mean of total score of control and experimental group. It suggests that

the experimental group made less correct responses as compared to the control group.

Graph

Mean score comparison among experimental and control groups

 6

0
control group Experimental group

The above chart shows the comparison of mean values of total scores of both groups i.e.

control group and experimental group.

Conclusion

The study was conducted to find out the effect of music on auditory memory span for

digits. It was hypothesized that music significantly affects the auditory memory span of

individuals. The participants of the control group scored higher than the participants of the

experimental group. It was concluded that vocal music affects the auditory memory span of the

participants.
 Reference

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Blackburn, H. L., & Benton, A. L. (1957). Revised administration and scoring of the Digit Span

Test. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21(2), 139–143. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0047235

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Chua, M., Ngie, G. W., & Nicomedes, C. J. (2020). A Study on the Effect of Music on Short

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Advanced Research and Publication, 4(4), 55–58.

https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32293.65763/1

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Musliu, A., Berisha, B., &Latifi, D. (2017). The impact of music in memory. European Journal

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https://doi.org/10.5530/ijcep.2019.6.2.14
 Annexure

Digit span test

● 671

● 7431

● 81934

● 542137

● 7245891

● 87513479

● 3764529821

Music

National song (Pakistan Zindabad)