The effect of Quran murottal’s audio on short term memory

Abstract

In all activities, people need memory as information storage. A good memory will make it easier for people to remember so they can do their job well. One of the things that affect memory is the sound of music. Music is commonly used as a stress treatment or as one of the stimuli of human brain memory. Not only classical music can be one of the stimuli of brain memory, but listening to the Quran can also be one of the brain memory stimulants. Several studies have proven that by listening to the Qur'an, the ability of the brain can be increased significantly. In this study used the variables pre and posted Qur'an listening to 50 respondents. Respondents consisted of 26 men and 24 women aged 19-22 years old. All respondents will get two treatments. The first treatment is without listening to murottal and the second treatment is done after listening to the Quran. All respondents will do memory test using the program running memory in software design tools. The results showed that the average ability of short-term memory without listening to murottal 11.8 and the average ability of short-term memory by listening to murottal is 12.62. Based on these results it is known that by listening to the Quran provides a significant increase in the ability of the brain.

Full text

The effect of Quran murottal’s audio on short term memory
Perdana Suteja Putra, Retno Gumilar, Sasmita Rahma Kusuma*, Hari Purnomo, and Chancard Basumerda
Islamic University of Indonesia , Jalan Kaliurang Km. 14,5 Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Abstract. In all activities, people need memory as information storage. A good memory will make it easier
for people to remember so they can do their job well. One of the things that affect memory is the sound of
music. Music is commonly used as a stress treatment or as one of the stimuli of human brain memory. Not
only classical music can be one of the stimuli of brain memory, but listening to the Quran can also be one of
the brain memory stimulants. Several studies have proven that by listening to the Qur'an, the ability of the
brain can be increased significantly. In this study used the variables pre and posted Qur'an listening to 50
respondents. Respondents consisted of 26 men and 24 women aged 19-22 years old. All respondents will get
two treatments. The first treatment is without listening to murottal and the second treatment is done after
listening to the Quran. All respondents will do memory test using the program running memory in software
design tools. The results showed that the average ability of short-term memory without listening to murottal
11.8 and the average ability of short-term memory by listening to murottal is 12.62. Based on these results it
is known that by listening to the Quran provides a significant increase in the ability of the brain.
1 Introduction
In carrying out daily work, human beings need memory to
store information. Good memory performance will make
it easier for people to remember so that work can be
completed faster and minimize errors [1]. The
performance of memory is not only be influenced by body
condition and human health, but also influenced by work
environment factor. Therefore, the environment and
working atmosphere must be designed in such a way as to
support better memory performance.
Based on the duration and level of use, memory is
divided into two, namely long-term memory and short-
term memory. Long term memory is a memory that is
often used and stored up to a long time even up to years.
While short-term memory only shortly after the
information obtained, without any repetition of the
information. The information will be lost in maximum
time after 30 seconds (Xu, 2002). In addition, the amount
of information that can be stored is limited. The amount
of information that can be stored by short term memory is
7 + 2 units [2]. Based on the above explanation, short term
memory needs to be considered its performance because
of its easy to lose in a short time.
So to optimize the work performance, need to note the
state of the physical work environment. One of the
physical work environments that can affect performance
is sound. Various sources of sound can be a stimulus for
someone in work, one of which is music. Music is sound,
a collection of musical instruments, and a combination of
sound and musical instruments that produce harmony,
melody, and rhythm. Music is widely used for the
treatment of stress or as one of the brain memory
stimulants. Not only classical music can be one of the
brain's memories stimulants. Several studies have shown
that reading the verses of the Qur'an can also provide a
good stimulus for the brain. In addition, there is a stigma
in the community that by reading or listening to the verses
of the Quran can be a drug stress and improve the ability
of the brain.
A study was conducted on four respondents using two
different treatments. After a memory test using a free
recall test, respondents in the experimental group were
recited by the Qur'an for 15 minutes. While the
respondents in the control group received a placebo
treatment of reading the story of the animal world. Then
all the respondents performed a memory test again. The
results obtained by the experimental group experienced
significant improvement in memory capacity after
treatment. While the control group there was no
significant difference between before and after treatment
[3]. Research from Abdurrochman, Perdana, and Andhika
shows when listening to the Qur'an occurs a significant
rise in brainwaves before and after the Al-Quran [4].
Therefore, researchers conducted research on the effect of
murattal Quran on short-term memory performance.
2 Literature Review
2.1 Short-Term Memory
Short-term memory has a small capacity, but a very large
role in the memory process, which is where we process
the stimuli that come from our environment. This small
information storage capability corresponds to a limited
MATEC Web of Conferences 154, 01060 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201815401060
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© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

processing capacity. Short-term memory serves as a
transitory storage that can store very limited information
and transform and use that information to produce a
response to a stimulus [8].
Sensory memory records information or stimuli that
enter through one or a combination of the five senses, i.e.,
visually through the eyes, ear hearing, smell through the
nose, taste through the tongue, and touch the skin. If the
information or stimuli are not noticed will be immediately
forgotten, but when noted then the information is
transferred to the short-term memory system. Short-term
memory systems store information or stimuli for about 30
seconds, and only about seven chunks of information
(chunks) can be stored and maintained in short-term
memory systems at a time. Once in the short-term
memory system, the information can be transferred again
by repetition process to the long-term memory system for
storage, or it may be lost/forgotten because it is replaced
by additional displacement [5].
The temporal dynamics of the embedded component
model are being mapped out in the behavioral literature.
For example, memory items that are no longer relevant for
behavior can be removed (within 1–2 sec) from the focus
of attention, thereby reducing the load on the system's
limited capacity and consequently reducing reaction time
to memory probes of the behaviorally relevant items still
in the focus [6]. Information removed from the focus
remains in a state of heightened availability for several
seconds, as shown by the finding that lures from a recently
encoded memory list are harder to reject than lures not
recently encountered [6]. This information can be
refocused if needed again otherwise, it is prone to
forgetting by decay or by interference [7].
2.2 Holy Qur’an
The Qur'an is a holy book of Muslims. According to the
Islamic ummah is the revelation of the God revealed to
the prophet Muhammad 14 centuries ago by the mediation
of the angel Gabriel. The Qur'an consists of 114 chapters
called letters. Each letter consists of various verses with
different amounts. Muslims say that in the Qur'an contains
important information that can provide answers and
solutions to the problems facing humans [9].
Hawari (1997) [10] mentions that many Qur'anic
verses contain the guidance of how humans in life in this
world free from anxiety, tension, and depression.
Research conducted by Chalfant and Heller in Hawari
(1997) showed 40% of people who experience mental
anxiety are brought to religious experts for treatment.
Also in the Qur'an also found verses about the peace
Research from a doctor in Florida named Qadhi found that
when reading the verses of the Quran, it will feel the
serenity [3].
3 Research Method
3.1 Subject and Object Experiment
a. Subject Experiment
There were 50 university students (26 male and 24
female) in the range of 19 to 22 years old was
appointed to be the subject of this research. Assuming
each participant has the same understanding of the
ability of the experiment, in this case, is the short term
memory.
b. Object Experiment
Short term memory testing using software design
tools. One of the components contained in this
software is a program running memory task. Running
memory task program is a program used for short-term
memory testing. In this program a sequence of
numbers will appear for a few seconds, then
disappears. After that will be shown a dialog box to
enter a sequence of numbers that appear earlier.
3.2 Research Procedure
a. Preparation
In this step, researchers prepared needed apparatus to
do the short term memory test performance influenced
by murottal. Apparatus were used in this research are
notebook Toshiba 11”, handsfree, design tools
software and experimental room.
b. Experimental Design
Respondents will perform two experimental
conditions. In the first condition, participants do the
tests given without listening to murrotal. After
working on the first experiment, participants were
given a chance to rest for a few minutes. Then
participants will experiment as before along with
listening to murrotal juz amma. The correct numerical
answer data is used as a measurement parameter. This
is done 15 times using the Design Tools software to
test the respondents.
c. Data analysis
The method used in this study is the experimental
method, because according to its importance the
experimental method is used to find out the cause [11]
and to know there is no effect of listening murrotal to
the ability of short-term memory. Data processing in
this research using paired sample t-test with a
confidence level 95%.
Hypothesis :
Ho = There are no difference in the average short term
memory between pre and post
listening murottal.
H1 = There are an difference average of short term
memory between pre and post
listening murottal.
4 Result and Discussion
The results of this study used to determine the effect of
the murattal Quran on the ability of short-term memory.
Data obtained from the testing of short-term memory
performance using Design Tools software.
2
MATEC Web of Conferences 154, 01060 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201815401060
ICET4SD 2017

processing capacity. Short-term memory serves as a
transitory storage that can store very limited information
and transform and use that information to produce a
response to a stimulus [8].
Sensory memory records information or stimuli that
enter through one or a combination of the five senses, i.e.,
visually through the eyes, ear hearing, smell through the
nose, taste through the tongue, and touch the skin. If the
information or stimuli are not noticed will be immediately
forgotten, but when noted then the information is
transferred to the short-term memory system. Short-term
memory systems store information or stimuli for about 30
seconds, and only about seven chunks of information
(chunks) can be stored and maintained in short-term
memory systems at a time. Once in the short-term
memory system, the information can be transferred again
by repetition process to the long-term memory system for
storage, or it may be lost/forgotten because it is replaced
by additional displacement [5].
The temporal dynamics of the embedded component
model are being mapped out in the behavioral literature.
For example, memory items that are no longer relevant for
behavior can be removed (within 1–2 sec) from the focus
of attention, thereby reducing the load on the system's
limited capacity and consequently reducing reaction time
to memory probes of the behaviorally relevant items still
in the focus [6]. Information removed from the focus
remains in a state of heightened availability for several
seconds, as shown by the finding that lures from a recently
encoded memory list are harder to reject than lures not
recently encountered [6]. This information can be
refocused if needed again otherwise, it is prone to
forgetting by decay or by interference [7].
2.2 Holy Qur’an
The Qur'an is a holy book of Muslims. According to the
Islamic ummah is the revelation of the God revealed to
the prophet Muhammad 14 centuries ago by the mediation
of the angel Gabriel. The Qur'an consists of 114 chapters
called letters. Each letter consists of various verses with
different amounts. Muslims say that in the Qur'an contains
important information that can provide answers and
solutions to the problems facing humans [9].
Hawari (1997) [10] mentions that many Qur'anic
verses contain the guidance of how humans in life in this
world free from anxiety, tension, and depression.
Research conducted by Chalfant and Heller in Hawari
(1997) showed 40% of people who experience mental
anxiety are brought to religious experts for treatment.
Also in the Qur'an also found verses about the peace
Research from a doctor in Florida named Qadhi found that
when reading the verses of the Quran, it will feel the
serenity [3].
3 Research Method
3.1 Subject and Object Experiment
a. Subject Experiment
There were 50 university students (26 male and 24
female) in the range of 19 to 22 years old was
appointed to be the subject of this research. Assuming
each participant has the same understanding of the
ability of the experiment, in this case, is the short term
memory.
b. Object Experiment
Short term memory testing using software design
tools. One of the components contained in this
software is a program running memory task. Running
memory task program is a program used for short-term
memory testing. In this program a sequence of
numbers will appear for a few seconds, then
disappears. After that will be shown a dialog box to
enter a sequence of numbers that appear earlier.
3.2 Research Procedure
a. Preparation
In this step, researchers prepared needed apparatus to
do the short term memory test performance influenced
by murottal. Apparatus were used in this research are
notebook Toshiba 11”, handsfree, design tools
software and experimental room.
b. Experimental Design
Respondents will perform two experimental
conditions. In the first condition, participants do the
tests given without listening to murrotal. After
working on the first experiment, participants were
given a chance to rest for a few minutes. Then
participants will experiment as before along with
listening to murrotal juz amma. The correct numerical
answer data is used as a measurement parameter. This
is done 15 times using the Design Tools software to
test the respondents.
c. Data analysis
The method used in this study is the experimental
method, because according to its importance the
experimental method is used to find out the cause [11]
and to know there is no effect of listening murrotal to
the ability of short-term memory. Data processing in
this research using paired sample t-test with a
confidence level 95%.
Hypothesis :
Ho = There are no difference in the average short term
memory between pre and post
listening murottal.
H1 = There are an difference average of short term
memory between pre and post
listening murottal.
4 Result and Discussion
The results of this study used to determine the effect of
the murattal Quran on the ability of short-term memory.
Data obtained from the testing of short-term memory
performance using Design Tools software.
Figure 1. Result of the Experiment
From 15 experiments, the graph shows that there is a
difference in experimental results when were not listening
to murattals and when were listening to murattals.
Respondents who listened to murattals during the
experiment conducted, having good concentration. So it
can remember and reply the numbers displayed correctly.
While respondents who did not listen to murattals during
the experiment, had low concentrations. This resulted in
only part of the correct answer.
Data were analyzed using statistical analysis paired
sample t-test. During the test, found that there was a
difference between the two treatments in the experiments
performed. Based on the results of paired sample t-test
shows there are differences caused by the use of murattal.
The test was performed using IBM SPSS software version
22, with the following results.
Table 1. Result of the paired samples test
Paired Differences
T df Sig. (2-
tailed)
Mean Std.
Deviation
Std.
Error
Mean
Pair
1
With
Murottal –
Without
Murottal
0.82 1.945 0.275
2.981 49 0.004
From the result of Paired Sample T-test, the decision
were taken based on the significant value. The data shows
that the Sig Value < 0.05 is 0.004 so that Ho is rejected.
The result showed that there is a difference in the average
value of short-term memory between pre and post
murattal listening. It proved after the respondents
listening to the murottal, and the concentration will be
increase. This is supported by [12], which has conducted
a study to find out whether music can enhance the ability
of people with Alzheimer's to recognize the nurse face
according to the name of the nurse. This study used two
treatments, there are with and without the music. The
results showed that four out of seven subjects get better
results when using music.
Another alternative besides music therapy according to
[13] is a religious therapy. Religious therapy can be an
accelerated healing, as evidenced by various experts has
been done by Ahmad Al Qadi, managing director of
Islamic Medicine Institute for Education and Research in
Florida, USA. The results of these studies showed positive
results that listen to the Qur’an has a significant effect in
reducing a nervous tension [13]. Holy verses of the
Qur’an have a therapeutic effect in reading and listening
[14]. Murattal and music therapy works on the brain,
which driven by external simultaneous, then the brain will
produce a chemical called neuropeptide. These molecules
will be hooking into their receptors in the body and will
provide feedback in the form of pleasure or comfort [15].
Based on some opinions above, it can be concluded that
listening to Holy Qur’an can give comforts to people who
could be a stimulant to increasing people concentration
level.
The authors thank to all parties for sponsoring and facilitating
this research, and also for all respondents in this research.
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MATEC Web of Conferences 154, 01060 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201815401060
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