Tufts Senior Connection Presents: Music and Memory in the Aging Brain

Scientists agree that there seems to be a relationship between music and the brain.  When we listen to music, the music "tickles" the brain and activates motor circuits, enticing us to move to the beat. There is growing interest in investigating how music might also tap into cognitive circuits and improve memory function, particularly as we age. Associate Professor of Psychology Elizabeth Race, whose research focuses on the neural basis of learning and memory, wants to answer the question, "Can we use music as a tool to activate the brain and combat memory loss in older adults?" 

Elizabeth Race, a Cognitive Neuroscientist, earned a BS from Duke University and a PhD in Neuroscience from Stanford University.  A member of the Tufts faculty since 2015, she teaches courses in Introduction to Psychology, Brain and Behavior, and Neuroscience.  Dr. Race's research seeks to elucidate the cognitive and neural mechanisms supporting human learning, memory, and cognitive control.