Musical soundtracks concern two art forms, music and cinema, and two sensory modalities, auditory and visual. As such, they touch many aspects of psychology and provide a fertile and challenging domain for investigation. The present article advocates that a framework for exploring the psychological effects of musical soundtracks should focus on meaning, structure, memory, awareness, and experimental aesthetics. Research representing these topics is reviewed and suggestions for new research are made. As well, it is proposed that the historically significant associationist approach is applicable to a number of these contemporary issues.
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