Comments on: Control context to aid memory

By: onemonkey

onemonkey — Mon, 09 May 2005 11:05:42 +0000

in a slightly different context, when I got my first tattoo, it took about an hour, it hurt like hell (i fainted once) and during the ordeal they played the Marshall Mathers LP from beginning to end. I hadn’t really heard it before. I didn’t really listen at the time at least I didn’t think I did but possibly I was trying to concentrate more on that than the gouging sensation in my arm.
In the weeks that followed I heard that album in places where I wouldn’t normally have noticed music. I remember it distinctly in Woolworths and on an otherwise inane and ignorable radio. Each time I felt distinctly queasy and exhilarated. Eventually, I had to buy the album and play it continually, partly to weaken the wooziness but also because it had affected me so strongly.
Incidently I’m writing code at the moment but when I am done I intend to run away and never look back so I’ll choose not to ruin any music by association.

By: Ryan Greene

Ryan Greene — Sat, 07 May 2005 15:26:27 +0000

I’ve used this trick as well, the Wipeout 2029 soundtrack, as well as the Rob Zombie remix albums both worked great for html coding. It works well for gameplay as too, the Dance Mix fo TMBG’s Istambul Not Constantinople helped get me to a winning season in Speedball for the Amiga back in the day.

By: Jez

Jez — Sat, 07 May 2005 10:54:23 +0000

My experience with writing has also shown that this can be really effective. A year ago I was working on a play and listening to ‘Computer Love’ by Kraftwerk. Six months later, having not looked at it once, I came back to it, played the song and it all came flooding back.
But…one thing you need to watch out for is music with lyrics. The brain has been shown to process incoming words automatically. That may interfere with any heavy thinking you’re doing. Certainly I find it hard to do any serious work while listening to music with lyrics.