How it works
Setting up your LifeTracks
01
Add a task
02
Add an image
03
Add a song
04
Add a day / time
Music and our Brain
Music has a greater access to our brain than any other stimulus in our lives. In fact, music accesses five areas of the brain, where other stimuli only activate one or two! We are not sure why, perhaps it is evolutionary; maybe we are successful group animals because of our inherent musicality, perhaps our musicality is a result of humans living in groups? Either way, our affinity to music can be a powerful tool in supporting and stimulating our wellbeing.
We know that songs can evoke a powerful emotive response and trigger strong memories. With a greater understanding of neurology and brain structure, it is now believed that memories are not stored in one place in the brain, but that memory is a brain-wide process in which several areas work in conjunction with each other, sometimes referred to as distributed processing. When a memory is recalled, the imagery, sounds, smells, words and emotions associated are encoded in the same parts of the brain as they were when initially formed and stored. The visual cortex, motor cortex, language area, and then the recall of that memory itself effectively reactivate the neural patterns generated during the original encoding process. This process of storing memories in different areas of the brain may point to the reason why music can unlock them even after the brain is under cognitive stress. If listening to music triggers five neural pathways as opposed to one or two, there are more chances for the brain to recall a memory that relates to this music.
There is a standard format or order of processes taking place when the human ear hears a song. Firstly, we ‘hear’ the music in the Temporal Lobe, which considers the rhythm, pitch and melody. Secondly, the lyrics stimulate Broca’s Area and Wernicke’s Area and with this we begin to understand the words, perhaps even proceeding to sing along. Thirdly, the visual cortex in the Occipital Lobe starts to visualise the music; its notation, its performance or something associated with the tune like a scene, a place or a face. Then, the Motor Area responsible for movement is stimulated and the individual may start tapping their feet, tapping a surface or swaying in time to the music. This reaction is human behaviour; a subconscious response associated with listening to music. Lastly, as remarked by Janata’s study mentioned above, the Medial Prefrontal Cortex is stimulated when there is a particularly strong memory associated with the music .*
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*"The Doctors TV - Music & Memory". US, 2012. TV programme.
LifeTracks Method
Songs we hear when we are very younger, when our brains are developing, and when we are discovering the world around us, become deeply held in our memory. These songs will probably have been heard many times, and often become associated with formative times in our lives. The LifeTracks platform leverages this powerful song-association and uses it to prompt us to carry out pre-selected tasks or goals. The LifeTrack song is able to ‘cut-through’ the clutter and ‘noise’ in our lives and help us recall the task, and get it completed. It also has the impact of raising our mood and helping us feel a sense of self.
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We hope that by using LifeTracks people can achieve better routines, support healthier behaviours, and get more out of each day. This is particularly important for people living with cognitive diversity, with ADHD, Autism, depression or with other challenges. Let us know how we can help!
Your LifeTracks Analytics = Tracking
Tracking helps you see how you are doing, and encourages you to keep going
SEQUENTIAL TRACKING
PROGRESS THIS WEEK
LONG-TERM TRACKING
LIFETRACK VIEW
