Dance's Effect on Auditory and Visual Memory

Abstract

The benefits of aerobic exercise in enhancing memory are well known. However, dance in particular has the possibility of new or even stronger memory benefits due to its combination of physical and mental stimulation. The current data available on dance only assesses middle aged or elder populations, as science is continually looking for ways to combat diseases such as dementia. However, there are many potential benefits to memory enhancement beginning at a young age as well. Therefore, dancers ages 9-17 were used in this study to determine the effect dance has on auditory and sensory memory in dancers. A quantitative experiment using a test called the N-back was run prior to and following an hour long dance class. My hypothesis was that both auditory and visual memory would be enhanced by dance. Ultimately, this was proven partially correct and partially incorrect. While both auditory and sensory memory ended up being enhanced by dance, auditory memory was enhanced more than visual memory. A statistical analysis on both tests determined that the enhancement from the visual group was too small and likely due to chance, while the enhancement observed in the auditory group was large enough to conclude that in the presence of minimal confounding variables, the dance class must have generated this enhancement. This data adds to the current body of knowledge present on exercise’s effect on memory. Most importantly, it can be incorporated into educational settings as a way to help students maximize their learning potential.