Poetry And Its Effects On Improving Memory: A Narrative Review
Ayushi Dutta
Abstract
For millennia, poetry has been considered as the primary method of retelling and remembering stories while developing cognitive memory. Poetic diction, structure and syntax have been used to retain, consolidate, and retrieve memory. In comparison to prose, poetry has shown to be less affected by memory decline (Tillmann & Dowling, 2007). Poetry has also shown to improve older adults’ cognitive performance in a group experiment (Zimmermann et al., 2014). Poetic meters have also shown the ability to serve as cognitive barriers against weakening memory (Andreeta et al.) and be used in evoking memories in dementia patients (Gregory, 2011). This review aims to raise awareness regarding the benefits of reading poetry for the development and retaining of memory.
Keywords: poetry, memory, dementia, cognitive memory, cognitive performance, memory decline
Introduction
Memory is a focal point of psychological health, and functions as a leading indicator of mental health condition and human behavior. With growing concerns over the doubling of memory-related chronic illnesses on the rise like dementia, regulated poetry readings and activities in the communities can help combat the loss of memory or atleast slow down the onset of memory-related diseases. While poetry has historically been used as a means of passing down knowledge and oral stories, its characteristic linguistic features like rhyme, meter, and repetition serve as barriers against rapid degradation of memory. Poetry’s rhythmic and repetitive nature aid in consolidating both short and long term memory in the brain and help strengthen neural connections.
Empirical studies show that poetry-based interventions can improve episodic memory and language skills in older adults (Zimmermann et al., 2014), resist memory decline compared to prose (Tillmann & Dowling, 2007), and evoke autobiographical recall in individuals with dementia (Gregory, 2011).
This narrative review aims to highlight the role of poetry as a low-cost and basic protective measure to combat the growing numbers of memory-related chronic illnesses. By illustrating the use of poetry, it also aims to show the interdisciplinary connection between linguistics and psychology.
Methods
Databases like PubMed and Google Scholar were searched with keywords relating to “poetry” and “memory”. These articles were then collected and organized into a spreadsheet and their abstracts were read to shortlist research papers and articles most relevant to the review. Then, a few credible websites from university labs were used to gain a better understanding of the topic in order to carefully curate the information present in the review. After reading and taking notes on these articles, common information was written down and credible information was cross-checked in order to ensure accuracy of facts.
Synthesis
Evidence collected from cognitive science studies, education, and literary studies illustrate the impactful changes reading and processing poetry has on the brain. The literary characteristics of poetry, like meter, rhyme, rhythm, and structure act as cognitive tools that structure language in the brain in memory-enhancing ways. Unlike prose, poetry seems to be better at resisting the degradation of memory (Tillmann & Dowling, 2007) mostly due to its phonological patterns which facilitate active recall through phonetic cues and rhythm present in the poetry.
In experiments and studies conducted with older adults, poetry has shown to be a valuable intervention in preserving episodic memory and cognitive recall (Zimmermann et al., 2014), illustrating its uses in slowing down the degradation of memory with age.
Perhaps one of the most important results, qualitative research has shown that poetry evokes autobiographical memory and emotional responses in individuals diagnosed with dementia (Gregory, 2011). This serves as a catalyst to improve treatment of patients with dementia beyond traditional cognitive exercises.
Lastly, poetic meter has been shown to act as a cognitive barrier against weakening memory. It has shown that the predictable pattern of material has a better chance of being retained even if its meaning is lost (Andreetta et al., 2023) which shows the memory still being present even if its semantic meaning is absent.
Thus poetry, through its linguistic predictability with repetition, rhythm, structure, and diction aids in the improvement of cognitive memory for those with weakening memory systems in their brains.
Conclusion
While the field related to finding the interdisciplinary connection between literature, specifically poetry, and memory is fairly new, the millenia-old histories of entire cultures and communities remembering their heritage through poetry is not. Memory has served as a defining trait of humanity, and the feelings we portray through poetry has been one of the most interesting fields of study in human psychology over the years. These scientific studies and experiments illustrate the importance of recognizing the connection between poetry and its effects on improving memory. Future research should draw their research further in by neuroimaging and using physiological markers in order to investigate the neurological and psychological effects of reading different types of poetry with distinct poetic meter and rhythms. Poetry has proven to be a valuable intervention in the emotional and cognitive degradation of memory in patients– and has expressed itself as a vehicle for cognitive vitality. Embracing poetry’s use in the field of psychology and neurology will only lead to better results for the development of both the fields.
About the Author
Ayushi Dutta is a student at West Windsor Plainsboro High School South.
References
For millennia, poetry has been considered as the primary method of retelling and remembering stories while developing cognitive memory. Poetic diction, structure and syntax have been used to retain, consolidate, and retrieve memory. In comparison to prose, poetry has shown to be less affected by memory decline (Tillmann & Dowling, 2007). Poetry has also shown to improve older adults’ cognitive performance in a group experiment (Zimmermann et al., 2014). Poetic meters have also shown the ability to serve as cognitive barriers against weakening memory (Andreeta et al.) and be used in evoking memories in dementia patients (Gregory, 2011). This review aims to raise awareness regarding the benefits of reading poetry for the development and retaining of memory.
Keywords: poetry, memory, dementia, cognitive memory, cognitive performance, memory decline
Introduction
Memory is a focal point of psychological health, and functions as a leading indicator of mental health condition and human behavior. With growing concerns over the doubling of memory-related chronic illnesses on the rise like dementia, regulated poetry readings and activities in the communities can help combat the loss of memory or atleast slow down the onset of memory-related diseases. While poetry has historically been used as a means of passing down knowledge and oral stories, its characteristic linguistic features like rhyme, meter, and repetition serve as barriers against rapid degradation of memory. Poetry’s rhythmic and repetitive nature aid in consolidating both short and long term memory in the brain and help strengthen neural connections.
Empirical studies show that poetry-based interventions can improve episodic memory and language skills in older adults (Zimmermann et al., 2014), resist memory decline compared to prose (Tillmann & Dowling, 2007), and evoke autobiographical recall in individuals with dementia (Gregory, 2011).
This narrative review aims to highlight the role of poetry as a low-cost and basic protective measure to combat the growing numbers of memory-related chronic illnesses. By illustrating the use of poetry, it also aims to show the interdisciplinary connection between linguistics and psychology.
Methods
Databases like PubMed and Google Scholar were searched with keywords relating to “poetry” and “memory”. These articles were then collected and organized into a spreadsheet and their abstracts were read to shortlist research papers and articles most relevant to the review. Then, a few credible websites from university labs were used to gain a better understanding of the topic in order to carefully curate the information present in the review. After reading and taking notes on these articles, common information was written down and credible information was cross-checked in order to ensure accuracy of facts.
Synthesis
Evidence collected from cognitive science studies, education, and literary studies illustrate the impactful changes reading and processing poetry has on the brain. The literary characteristics of poetry, like meter, rhyme, rhythm, and structure act as cognitive tools that structure language in the brain in memory-enhancing ways. Unlike prose, poetry seems to be better at resisting the degradation of memory (Tillmann & Dowling, 2007) mostly due to its phonological patterns which facilitate active recall through phonetic cues and rhythm present in the poetry.
In experiments and studies conducted with older adults, poetry has shown to be a valuable intervention in preserving episodic memory and cognitive recall (Zimmermann et al., 2014), illustrating its uses in slowing down the degradation of memory with age.
Perhaps one of the most important results, qualitative research has shown that poetry evokes autobiographical memory and emotional responses in individuals diagnosed with dementia (Gregory, 2011). This serves as a catalyst to improve treatment of patients with dementia beyond traditional cognitive exercises.
Lastly, poetic meter has been shown to act as a cognitive barrier against weakening memory. It has shown that the predictable pattern of material has a better chance of being retained even if its meaning is lost (Andreetta et al., 2023) which shows the memory still being present even if its semantic meaning is absent.
Thus poetry, through its linguistic predictability with repetition, rhythm, structure, and diction aids in the improvement of cognitive memory for those with weakening memory systems in their brains.
Conclusion
While the field related to finding the interdisciplinary connection between literature, specifically poetry, and memory is fairly new, the millenia-old histories of entire cultures and communities remembering their heritage through poetry is not. Memory has served as a defining trait of humanity, and the feelings we portray through poetry has been one of the most interesting fields of study in human psychology over the years. These scientific studies and experiments illustrate the importance of recognizing the connection between poetry and its effects on improving memory. Future research should draw their research further in by neuroimaging and using physiological markers in order to investigate the neurological and psychological effects of reading different types of poetry with distinct poetic meter and rhythms. Poetry has proven to be a valuable intervention in the emotional and cognitive degradation of memory in patients– and has expressed itself as a vehicle for cognitive vitality. Embracing poetry’s use in the field of psychology and neurology will only lead to better results for the development of both the fields.
About the Author
Ayushi Dutta is a student at West Windsor Plainsboro High School South.
References
- Andreetta, S., Soldatkina, O., Boboeva, V., & Treves, A. (2023). In poetry, if meter has to help memory, it takes its time. Open research Europe, 1, 59. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.13663.2
- Gregory, H. (2011). Using poetry to improve the quality of life and care for people with dementia: A qualitative analysis of the Try to Remember programme. Arts & Health, 3(2), 160–172. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2011.584885
- Tillmann, B., Jay Dowling, W. Memory decreases for prose, but not for poetry. Memory & Cognition 35, 628–639 (2007). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193301
- United States Dementia Cases Estimated to Double by 2060. (2025, January 13). NYU Langone Health. Retrieved April 13, 2025, from https://nyulangone.org/news/united-states-dementia-cases-estimated-double-2060
- Zimmermann N, Netto TM, Amodeo MT, Ska B, Fonseca RP. Working memory training and poetry-based stimulation programs: Are there differences in cognitive outcome in healthy older adults? NeuroRehabilitation. 2014;35(1):159-170. doi:10.3233/NRE-141104