Improve your vocabulary with music!

In 1982, researchers from the University of North Texas performed a three-way test on postgraduate students to see if music could help in memorizing vocabulary words. The students were divided into three groups. Each group was given three tests - a pretest, a posttest, and a test a week after the first two tests. All of the tests were identical. Group 1 was read the words with Handel's Water Music in the background. They were also asked to imagine the words. Group 2 was read the same words also with Handel's Water Music in the background. Group 2 was not asked to imagine the words. Group 3 was only read the words, was not given any background music, and was also not asked to imagine the words. The results from the first two tests showed that groups 1 and 2 had much better scores than group 3. The results from the third test, a week later, showed that group 1 performed much better than groups 2 or 3. However, simply using music while learning does not absolutely guarantee recall but can possibly improve it. Background music in itself is not a part of the learning process, but it does enter into memory along with the information learned. Recall is better when the same music used for learning is used during recall. Also, tempo appears to be a key of music's effect on memory.

The Brain, Biking, and Improvisation

Today was Labor Day and I deicided to do the Mayor's Bike and Hike Event down by the Ohio River. It was a beautiful day and riding the 10-12 miles downtown and along the river was just a gorgeous trip.
When I got home, I was ready to sit down at the piano and start working on my new Christas CD music. I was amazed at how easy the arranging of my music was today and I totally attribute it to the endorphins, dopamine and adrenaline that I stirred up by riding my bike up and down the rolling hills and valleys earlier today. What do you think?