How music influences your daydreams | Elizabeth Margulis | TEDxNewEngland — Tuesday 19 May 2026In a captivating TEDxNewEngland talk, music cognition expert Elizabeth Margulis explores the subtle yet powerful ways melodies can steer our minds into unexpected daydreams. Drawing from her research at Princeton University, she explains how even brief musical phrases activate deep-seated patterns of association built over years of listening. These moments feel intensely personal, yet her cross-cultural studies reveal they often follow shared structures shaped by the societies we inhabit. Margulis highlights findings from neuroscience that show music quietly influences spontaneous thought, linking sounds to memories or imagined scenes without conscious effort. In places from bustling cities in Asia to quiet villages in Africa, listeners report similar transports, though the specific images they conjure vary with local traditions and histories. Her work as director of Princeton’s Music Cognition Lab underscores how these experiences bridge psychology and culture, showing that what seems private is often rooted in collective listening habits. For global audiences navigating fast-paced digital lives, this insight carries particular weight. Music streaming services now reach every corner of the world, offering soundtracks that can spark reflection amid daily routines or ease transitions between cultures. Margulis suggests recognizing these patterns helps people appreciate music’s role in fostering empathy and preserving intangible heritage across generations. Ultimately, her presentation invites listeners everywhere to notice how ordinary songs quietly enrich inner worlds, turning routine moments into opportunities for connection and wonder.Watch the full video from TED Talks below.