Brain dynamics of memory encoding for simple versus complex musical sequences

Abstract

Memory encoding is the foundational process by which the brain transforms sensory input into lasting representations. While the neural mechanisms of auditory memory have been extensively studied, how musical complexity modulates the neural activity during memory encoding remains poorly understood. Here, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate the encoding of simple (tonal) versus complex (atonal) musical melodies in 67 participants. Behaviorally, the latter melodies were consistently rated as more complex and associated with lower recognition accuracy across three testing sessions (same day, one day later, and ten days after the encoding task). At the neural level, source-localized analyses revealed distinct spatiotemporal dynamics: simple melodies elicited stronger activity in auditory cortices (left and right Heschl's gyrus) and cingulate regions (medial and anterior cingulate gyrus), while complex melodies recruited the left hippocampus more extensively across multiple tones. These findings demonstrate that musical complexity shapes neural encoding processes from the outset, with tonal sequences benefiting from efficient sensory processing and atonal sequences requiring greater memory-related recruitment. Our study provides novel insights into how the human brain encodes complex auditory information, providing a framework for understanding the neural basis of memory formation for temporally structured stimuli.