(Research team conducting an internal pilot testing session with a team member (non-hafiz) prior to the data collection phase)
A research team from the UGM Faculty of Psychology will examine how intensive Qur’an memorization training shapes verbal memory and leaves measurable traces in brain structure and connectivity. Grounded in the structured pedagogy of Islamic boarding schools, combining talaqqi, muraja’ah, and consistent repetition, this study positions hafiz as a model of learning that demands high perseverance and repeated information processing. In neuroscience, intensive learning experiences are known to trigger neuroplasticity, the brain’s capacity to adapt both functionally and structurally. However, specific evidence of how these adaptations manifest in hafiz remains limited. This study aims to map brain regions relevant to verbal memory, particularly the hippocampus and caudate nucleus, assess the integrity of white-matter tracts such as the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF) and uncinate fasciculus (UF), and concurrently evaluate behavioral performance in verbal memory. Additionally, this study is the first psychology research in Indonesia on mapping the brains of hafiz using structural brain imaging.
The study recruits two groups from the same pesantren environment: five hafiz who have memorized all 30 juz and five non-hafiz as a comparison group. This approach minimizes environmental variance that might influence memory. Verbal memory will be measured using a Word Pair Association task, assessing accuracy and reaction time in recognizing previously learned word pairs. In parallel, structural and functional MRI will be employed to examine gray-matter volume in the hippocampus and caudate nucleus, white-matter integrity in the IFOF and UF via tract-based spatial statistics, as well as resting-state activity and connectivity patterns using fMRI. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) will extract volumetric indices, while fMRI data will undergo standard preprocessing and be analyzed using a general linear model. The statistical plan includes permutation-based group comparisons suitable for small samples, alongside regression analyses to examine associations between the duration of memorization training and neuroanatomical parameters.
The project is led by Satriyo Priyo Adi, S.Psi., M.Sc. (Principal Investigator), and funded by the UGM Faculty of Psychology Research Grant 2025, with cross-disciplinary collaboration between psychology and medicine. The core team includes Zulfikri Khakim, S.Psi., M.Sc., and Sri Kusrohmaniah, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psychologist, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Psychology, as well as radiology specialists: dr. Yana Supriatna, Ph.D., Sp.Rad; dr. Nurhuda Hendra Setyawan, Sp.Rad; dr. Naela Himayati Afifah, M.Sc., Sp.Rad; and dr. Rifki Bachtiar, MMSc, Sp.Rad. Data collection takes place at the Laboratory of Mental Processes and Behavior, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, and UGM Academic Hospital using a 1.5T Siemens scanner under standardized protocols. The involvement of undergraduate and master’s students as research assistants strengthens the research learning ecosystem, from participant support and behavioral data processing to assistance with imaging preprocessing.
Theoretically, the study hypothesizes that hafiz will show superior verbal memory performance, volumetric differences in the hippocampus and caudate nucleus, and higher white-matter integrity in the IFOF and UF compared to the comparison group. Functional connectivity patterns involving memory networks are expected to be more pronounced among hafiz, consistent with the repeated cognitive demands of memorization spanning phonological, semantic, and emotional dimensions. If confirmed, these findings would deepen our understanding of neuroplastic mechanisms in rote-learning contexts and inform neuroscience-based educational strategies—such as designing effective repetition schedules, monitoring progress, and adapting training loads to cognitive profiles.
Expected outputs include a manuscript for an international peer-reviewed journal (minimum Q3), MRI/fMRI-based experimental procedures prepared for IP submission, and news coverage aligned with SDG principles on Faculty and University web pages. Practically, this mapping is expected to contribute to more precise cognitive interventions and learning designs, both in pesantren education and in formal educational settings emphasizing verbal memory strengthening. Through cross-disciplinary collaboration, rigorous measurement protocols, and transparent analysis, this study underscores the UGM Faculty of Psychology’s commitment to evidence-based research for advancing educational quality and neuroscience literacy in Indonesia.