why listening to music while studying is good essay

Studying With Music: Arguments for & Against

Does music really help you study?

• By Sander Tamm
• Aug 4, 2021

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At some point, almost every student has experimented with using background music as a means to study or  work  more efficiently. 

It is no wonder, then, that the iconic YouTube channel  Lofi Girl  is currently approaching the 1B views mark.

But, does music actually make a legitimate difference in the effectiveness of an individual study session?

According to relevant science, listening to music while studying does have its advantages as well as significant disadvantages – one thing is for sure, there is no concrete “yes or no” answer to whether music affects studying positively.

If we leave the science out of it and look at the individual opinions of students, things stay just as complicated – many students swear by background music, while many learners are completely against ANY background noise.

The debate on whether music can help you study or not tends to boil down to two concrete arguments.

One side has the opinion that listening to music helps  improve focus and concentration . The other camp says that they don’t want  any additional noise  because their own thoughts provide enough distraction as it is. Thus, for these students, music seems to make concentration even more difficult.

In this article, we will be looking at both the science and the individual experience of the students. In addition, we will explore both the advantages and disadvantages of listening to music while studying.

Hopefully, the article will let you decide on which option would suit you better –  studying in complete silence or doing the brain crunching with some light background music on.

Without further ado, let’s get started by looking at some advantages of listening to music while studying.

Here’s what you’ll find in this article:

Studying with Music

Arguments for listening to music while studying.

Here are four major advantages of listening to music while studying:

Relaxing music can combat study-related stress

Learning about a new subject or going through a demanding online course can be overwhelming and stressful, even for the brightest of minds. Therefore, it is essential (at least if you want the study session to be fruitful) to study with a positive mindset.

Why? Well,  research  suggests that positive affect (term used in psychology for positive emotions and expression) improves a variety of cognitive processes.

Simply put, you will learn better when you are in a good mood.

This is where listening to music comes in – according to scientists from  Stanford University , music can  change brain functioning  to the same extent as meditation.

It is a quick, easy, and cheap way of flooding your brain with endorphins and reaping the benefits of improved cognitive function immediately.

Music can help with completing repetitive tasks

According to a  study by Fox & Embrey  (1972), music can be a great productivity aid when you need to perform repetitive and more simple tasks.

For example, try listening to music when rewriting or editing a paper. Music can inspire you to tackle these somewhat tedious activities with greater efficiency.

Music can inspire you to tackle these somewhat tedious activities with greater efficiency. For example, try listening to music when rewriting or editing a paper. You’ll quickly see that you work more quickly and efficiently when listening to music.

Music can also make a boring activity seem less boring. Listening to music while doing something mundane, like creating  charting  tables or creating columns for  Cornell notes .

Music can help with memorization

In one way or another, all learning is about memorization. And, according to science, background music can have a  positive impact on human memory .

So, next time you are trying to memorize phrases from an  online language course , have some background music on. It just might give your learning that extra boost.

Listening to music with headphones can cancel noise pollution

In a perfect world, you could always choose exactly where and when you study. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

There will be times when your study environment will work against you – distractions can come in the form of other family members, roommates, or traffic noise.

In such cases, putting on a pair of headphones would be a great way of fighting  noise pollution . After all, a soothing collection of tunes will be a much better background to your studies than hearing your roommate play video games for hours on end.

Arguments against listening to music while studying

These are the two main drawbacks to listening to music while studying:

Lack of concentration

Whether you consciously notice it or not, your brain will put some extra resources into “decoding” the music playing in the background. This is especially true for songs with lyrics – instead of focusing on your studies, you will unconsciously try to listen to what the singer is saying. This can ultimately  decrease your productivity  by 10%. Thus, for tasks that require cognitively demanding and creative mental work, complete silence would be the best possible solution.

Complete silence  promotes increased blood flow  to the brain. This, in return, directly affects your capability to tackle more demanding mental tasks.

So, if you are planning on mastering a hard skill like  PHP  or  Python , always try to find a place as silent as possible.

Music can trigger bad memories

Music can put you in a positive mood (thus enhancing your cognitive capabilities), but the reverse is also possible.

Some music can come with bad associations and lead you to a more negative state of mind. Which, in return, will dampen your learning capabilities.

You can combat this by avoiding music that is too dark or downbeat. Thinking about your high school heartbreaks is the last thing you want when studying for that Advanced Calculus exam.

4 Tips for using background music to enhance your mental capacity

If you are planning on experimenting with listening to music while studying, there are some things to consider. These tips will help you avoid some mistakes students commonly make when studying with background music.

Avoid music with lyrics!

It is not a coincidence that most of the music associated with studying is entirely instrumental.

According to a study by Perham/Currie (2014), music with lyrics has a negative effect on reading comprehension performance. The same study also finds that the same applies even when the student enjoys the music or already knows the lyrical content.

To conclude, do not choose albums, playlists, or songs with any lyrical content.

If you are not knowledgeable about instrumental music, the Lofi Girl YouTube channel mentioned in the introduction is the best place to start. For further inspiration, we will also list some music styles that we recommend experimenting with.

But, before we get into specific styles, allow me to explain why not all instrumental music works as a backdrop for a learning session.

Use background music that follows clear patterns

We already established that the debate is still on whether listening to music while studying is beneficial or not. But, one thing is clear – the  type of music  you choose for your study sessions matters!

Not any instrumental music is suitable background music by default. Music that is too progressive in nature is likely to throw your brain off the loop and distract you.

For example, listening to jazz while studying might “make sense” to some students, but jazz is quite chaotic in nature. Thus, I wouldn’t choose jazz as background music for studying, even if the pieces are entirely instrumental.

The lo-fi hip-hop beats have become such popular choices for study music because they generally follow a clear, defined rhythm. These beats provide a pleasant background ambiance that does not demand your brain for attention. 

Here are some other examples of music styles suitable for learning:

• Ambient  – Brian Eno, possibly the most famous ambient composer of all time, has described ambient music as music that “induces calm and a space to think”. This is exactly what you want when selecting suitable music for getting some studying done.
• Downtempo  – Similar to ambient, but with a bigger focus on beats. The atmospheric sounds and the mellow beats make downtempo a great backdrop for long study sessions.
• Classical  –  The Mozart Effect  has been effectively  debunked . Listening to classical music does NOT make you smarter. Still, classical music can enhance your mood and put you in the right mind frame for studying. Reading while listening to classical is something that works particularly well for many students.
• Deep house  – An unconventional choice, but something that has worked for me and several other students we interviewed. Deep house has very little variation, the beats are hypnotic, and the rhythms are soothing.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. What works for one student, might not work for someone else. So, feel free to experiment with different albums, playlists, and artists to see what works best for your study routine.

Make your choices before the learning sessions

You have probably heard that some of the most high-performing individuals in the world consciously limit their daily choices. This is a great strategy for avoiding decision fatigue as much as possible.

Decision fatigue is the last thing you want when engaging in mentally demanding work such as studying. Thus, if you are planning on studying with background music playing, choose your music well in advance. Preferably the day before your learning session.

Take regular breaks

You can use the stopping of music as a cue for a study break. For example, prepare separate playlists for your learning sessions. When one playlist is finished, take a break.

Since your brain has learned to associate music with studying, you will find it that much easier to relax and switch off when the music stops.

When you resume learning, your mind will be fully refreshed and ready to absorb new information.

The usefulness of background music for studying depends on many variables. It all comes down to the specific music listened to, what you are studying, and the environment where you study.

Of course, the personality and the study habits of a given student are also important.

Everyone has different preferences, so you will need to experiment with what works for you. Some people may find that listening to music while studying helps them focus more and retain information better. Others will do better in silence without any noise at all.

The scientific evidence is also inconclusive. Some studies show that music can help improve attention and memory, while other studies find no benefits for listening to music while studying.

If you do decide to experiment with having background music on while studying, there are some key takeaways to consider.

For one, anything with lyrics should be avoided. The same goes for music that is too loud and intense or too progressive. Instead, opt for music that is repetitive and classically pleasant.

Also, be sure to prepare your playlists or streams BEFORE starting studying. Choosing songs while engaging with your studies is a surefire formula for throwing your brain off the loop and hurting your concentration levels.

Sander Tamm

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Study Music: is it Good or Bad?

Listening to music while studying, is it good? Students share their thoughts on what kinds of music are the best to listen to while studying.

Illustration by Izzy Reeve (IG: @izzymayv)

Listening to music while studying is a widely contested subject. It leads me to wonder, is studying with music actually a good habit? I’ve heard a lot of different perspectives on this topic. Many people have polarizing stances on whether it’s distracting or not to listen to music while studying or doing schoolwork. A 2019 article from the University of Wollongong about music and studying argued that because music puts us in a good mood, it can help us to improve our studying. However, music (specifically music with lyrics) can often be highly distracting. The article ultimately concludes that in order to study with music effectively you need to “reduce how distracting music can be, and increase the level to which the music keeps you in a good mood.”

Personally, I tend to rely on the perpetual YouTube livestream Lofi Girl . “Lofi beats to relax/study to” has accompanied me on many study sessions, essay-writing all-nighters, and trips to the library. I find the lofi genre to be the perfect type of music for studying, because it always feels vaguely familiar and yet doesn’t have lyrics or a typical song structure. It’s a good compromise, because I find listening to my favourite songs and artists becomes far too distracting when trying to concentrate. On the occasions where I’ve tried the latter, I tend to zone out from the work and end up just listening to the music (or accidentally writing down the song lyrics mid-essay paragraph...).

I interviewed a few of my fellow university students to see what their thoughts were on the subject:

A third year environmental science student, Hannah, shared how the kind of music they listen to really depends on what kind of studying they’re doing. “If I need to get something done quickly, I'll listen to really intense classical music where the instrumentals are going fast.” They cite Mozart’s “Turkish March” as a good example of this. However, if it’s more active-recall based studying, Hannah tends to stick with more mellow music to have playing in the background. In general, they find music with lyrics too distracting and prefer instrumental music, particularly when studying for exams: “It’s the instrumentals that keep me going more, because if the lyrics are too catchy or it’s a song I like, it’s harder to pay attention and understand what I’m doing.”

Fran, a third year neuroscience student, shares her unique approach to study music which she learned from her sister. Her trick is to listen to high intensity music, ideally a soundtrack, in order to have an intense study session. She lists Pirates of the Caribbean , Undertale , and Indiana Jones as ideal examples. She compares her approach of study music to working out at the gym: “It’s similar to exercise music, because you’re exercising your mind.” For everyday coursework however, she also recommends lofi music or anything without lyrics.

A third year history student, Isla, does not have one particular kind of music she listens to while studying. She likes having a variety of different genres and artists, and often prefers to hit shuffle on her playlists to avoid pressure of choosing. This allows her to get straight to work with studying. Isla does tend to gravitate towards jazz music, particularly Frank Sinatra, an artist she was introduced to by her grandfather. She also enjoys classical music while doing readings for her classes as she finds music with lyrics to be too distracting.

Taking all of this into account, study music seems to be a very individualistic experience. It’s about finding that perfect balance of having motivating music that keeps you in the zone, but also ensures you aren’t getting distracted by your favourite songs and artists. Now my only question is, what will you listen to for your next study session?

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Is listening to music while studying a good idea? Yes & No.

Aditya Shukla  |  September 1, 2024 March 20, 2017  |  Disclaimer: Links to some products earn us a commission

Home » Studying » Is listening to music while studying a good idea? Yes & No.

Music while studying – good or bad? Decide after reading these insights.

A little bit of research went into concluding what I am about to say; I even tested some hypotheses (unpublished & for fun). These will help you decide if listening to music while studying is good for you or not based on your study material, cognitive activity, and the type of music. A word of caution. The answer is not yes or no. It is very contextual, and you’ll need to focus on 4 primary things:

• What are you studying while listening to something?
• What type of music are you listening to?
• What sort of study outcome are you expecting?
• How good are you at concentrating?

8 things you should know before you start listening to music while studying

1. music counterbalances lack of attention and task difficulty to optimize learning, 2. music with vocals/lyrics is more distracting and hampers learning, 3. remembering only when you have the same music playing, 4. music can help with adhd, 5. making study information musical, 6. using music to boost creativity, 7. no music for reading comprehension, calculations, and conceptual understanding, 8. music is a motivator and your belief about how it affects you matters, listening to music while reading.

These are some guidelines based on experimental data. You should be aware of these factors before you make your playlist and get to studying.

There are a lot of anecdotes for why listening to music is good or why it is bad, and scientists have found many nuances. [1] You’ll have cases and arguments for both sides. Arguments with multiple conditions. You’ll have people saying, ‘music made me a topper.’ And you’ll also have people saying, ‘I need music, but I shouldn’t have because I couldn’t concentrate during exams.’

These points will help you understand the deeper mechanics of how music affects learning.

Music is a stimulus that is attractive. That means it will draw your attention. People’s attention is generally very limited, and you might not want to waste your attention on things not related to studying. This makes the question about “task load” – how difficult or demanding is the study material? Real-world self-chosen music (not experimentally prescribed) can help to learn and focus when study material is easy [2] or boring. People have different preferences for songs based on their vocal content, rhythm, musical characteristics, and danceability when the task is difficult. Most people intuitively figure out what intensity of music works for different levels of task difficulty. A general tendency is to choose stimulating music for boring tasks and calming but non-vocal music for difficult tasks.

Our ears are primed to attend to the human voice. So, music with vocals is a bad idea; it will distract you. Music with guitars, violins, saxophones, trumpets, etc., is also a bad idea because the timbre (sound) of these instruments is such that it overlaps with the human voice. In fact, the general frequency range of the notes played on these instruments is very similar to that of our voices, so our brains will automatically get distracted. If you are using your short-term memory for computations, such music will certainly hamper learning. For mathematical work, non-verbal, non-lead, and calming music can help.

Music with lyrics generally hamper all cognitive tasks [3] like reading, listening, verbal memory, visual memory, with the exception being math. The same study found that instrumental music did not improve or worsen performance, but many students believe there is a benefit to instrumental music.

Research suggests there is a hierarchy in the type of sounds [4] that disrupt memory: vocal music and speech are most interfering than instrumental music, and noise and silence are functionally equal in terms of how they affect cognitive performance. However,, some research does suggest that noise is better [5] because the noise from the environment turns into internal biological noise, which improves neural signaling through stochastic resonance (adding noise to a weak signal boosts it)

Many memory experiments have been done with music, and a general finding is that recall of what you learn while listening to music is better IF you recall it later while listening to that same music again. The phenomenon is called “ context-dependent memory [6] ” or “state-dependent memory.” This creates a problem for exams because if you learn a list of words while listening to background music, your recall will be better with the same music and worse with different or no music. When you study for exams with music, gradually remove music from the equation and practice mock tests or short quizzes without it so you can trust your recall when the musical context of learning is no longer there.

If you have ADHD, background noise or light music could stimulate you just enough for good cognitive functioning and make you feel at ease without needing more distractions. Light electronic or ambient music works best if you have ADHD. ADHD is likely caused by low dopamine activity [7] , and music can increase it [8] through the anticipation of musical sequences/elements and the peak emotions created by music. White noise [9] can also help ADHD children but hamper non-ADHD children while doing cognitive work like calculations, memorizing, analysis, etc.

Partially contradicting the previous point I’ve mentioned, if you are a musician and you have learn ed how to remember details of a song or learn the notes of your instrument, you can make associations with memory tasks. For example, making a tune of something you have to remember, like a mnemonic. You could learn something by singing it or giving it a rhythm, etc. As a musician, you probably have developed musical schemas and templates that automatically improve memory for musical information. So it is easy for you to remember what bit of information is associated with a particular note. 

When you are reading papers or essays, you shouldn’t listen to any music as repetition and familiarity in music automatically demands more attention. You’d expect to get habituated to the music and not focus on it, but chances are you love that music, and it grabs your attention. On the other hand, if you are working on creative assignments , the background noise/music can help you get out of a mental block. As music engages a lot of different brain regions [10] , which aid in different cognitive abilities, you might just get lucky and think creatively because the music stimulates a certain brain region. So, in this case (for creative work), music could benefit you WHILE working on the task at hand or your study material.

For conceptual understanding in any subject, don’t listen to music. Period. Use all your attention and working memory to take mental notes, revise, and chunk important information. You learn and remember well when you can process information deeply. Focus all of your energy on mentally making the theory come ‘alive’ in your head (visualize, narrate a story, connect it to real life, etc.). Fast and loud music [11] dramatically worsens reading comprehension, but low-intensity and slow music might be ok, depending on your need for stimulation.

Children’s [12] and adults’ [13] beliefs about how music affects learning indicate its effectiveness. Partly through an accurate understanding of their learning capacity and partly through a self-fulfilling prophecy. If they believe background songs help them focus and learn better, chances are it actually does help.

Reading is probably the most common study activity. Let’s take the case of reading words (not numbers) and listening to music with vocals. There is direct interference between the words in the song and the words you are reading that worsens your ability to pay attention and figure out the meaning of what you are reading/listening to. The interference exists because the human brain has a little compartment in its memory called the “ phonological loop ,” which caters to auditory information while doing a task. Listening to lyrics or reading words puts information in that compartment. Having 2 streams of data interfere with each other because they are fighting for the same space in the brain. Even though reading is visual, your inner voice is auditory. If both streams match exactly, your reading comprehension improves, exactly how subtitles while listening help . But vocal music and reading material most certainly interfere and then degrade verbal comprehension.

Similar to the phonological loop, there is another “semantic” compartment in memory that deals with the meaning of words while doing a task. Listening to background human chatter typically worsens reading comprehension [14] because the chatter is fighting for space in that compartment when your reading material should be the only thing in it.

I will conclude that it’s safe to listen to music while studying if:

• Your need for stimulation is high, and the study material is too boring.
• Working on creative things.
• You are studying casually or doing a boring assignment.

If not, light music might work, but most music, especially vocal music, can be detrimental when study material gets difficult.

I’ve written another post on the topic, which specifically looks at the influence of music on work-related productivity and creativity. Go ahead; if these insights are not enough, you really should read that article too.

Yes, music can help reduce boredom and monotony while studying a boring topic. It can also associate pleasure with a topic you dislike. Boredom generally means you are unstimulated and need more stimulation, so music can offer it.

When a task needs high attention and active processing, like computing, planning, memorizing, or spotting details, music is generally not a good idea. If at all you need to listen to music during a complex task, listen to calming music instead of vocal music. Vocal and lyrics you understand, or music you really like can be distracting because you would automatically start paying attention to the music and not your task.

In most cases, instrumental music with mild variety is not distracting and can help you focus for a long time and reduce mind-wandering. Music that you like or dislike a lot is generally not a good idea, so mildly likable music without vocals or dramatic changes can help.

Music through earphones can work as a shield that blocks out other random noises. So if you are in a busy, loud, or distracting area while studying, music can form a layer of background noise that drowns other noises.

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Instrumental music like classical, D&B, synthwave, instrumental rock, music with unfamiliar languages, etc., are a good idea to help you maintain a balanced amount of arousal while studying without feeling distracted or too occupied with music. Rap, Hip-hop, Metal, hard rock, Vocal Jazz, etc., are naturally distracting genres due to a large amount of catchy vocals and dramatic musical changes.

Music between study sessions is a good way to relax and engage brain regions that you don’t use while studying. Activating these brain regions can help with creative thinking.

Background music can induce a positive mood and help with creative thinking. Music can pull brain resources from unexpected brain regions, and that can help with creative thinking. A positive mood also helps creativity because positive emotions facilitate novel thinking and trigger unexpected ideas, according to the broaden and build theory.

White and pink noise is a popular choice of background sound that helps people focus. In most cases, it should help you stimulate your brain just enough to maintain focus while reading and writing. Since it has no words or musical patterns, it is not distracting.

Avoid music while reading, memorizing, solving complicated problems, and comprehension tasks. Avoid music with vocals in particular while reading because lyrics can occupy limited resources from the auditory component of working memory, which should ideally be dedicated to reading. Light instrumental music is ok while reading.

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Hey! Thank you for reading; hope you enjoyed the article. I run Cognition Today to paint a holistic picture of psychology. My content here is referenced and featured in NY Times, Forbes, CNET, Entrepreneur, Lifehacker, about 15 books, academic courses, and 100s of research papers.

I’m a full-time psychology SME consultant and I work part-time with Myelin, an EdTech company. I’m also currently an overtime impostor in the AI industry. I’m attempting (mostly failing) to solve AI’s contextual awareness problem from the cognitive perspective.

I’ve studied at NIMHANS Bangalore (positive psychology), Savitribai Phule Pune University (clinical psychology), Fergusson College (BA psych), and affiliated with IIM Ahmedabad (marketing psychology).

I’m based in Pune, India. Love Sci-fi, horror media; Love rock, metal, synthwave, and K-pop music; can’t whistle; can play 2 guitars at a time.

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8 thoughts on “Is listening to music while studying a good idea? Yes & No.”

Thanks for your value adding comment Bruce! Yeah, the congruence between exam conditions and study conditions is important. Olfaction certainly is strongly associated with memory. Good point.

Number three, on a related topic called 'State-dependant-memory'. It's known that recall is better when associated factors of the learning experience are present at the time needing recall. Therefore, for students sitting exams, conditions for learning should be as near exam conditions as possible e.g. quiet classroom atmosphere except, of course, for creative visual topics. Any association added in a learning situation should be reproducable in an exam room. Some suggest wearing a cologne for study only and again for the exam and also continue to use the same stationary items used when studying.

Why keep the headset away? What are you studying Shridhar?

Perfect. Thank you.

He certainly gave the right advice! Hahaha yes, you could keep the headset away! But, if you are as distractible as I am in the afternoons, some background noise/stimulation will help you concentrate. 😛

Thanks FrostBite, yes there are articles and academic papers that I have come across which point to these conclusions. I'll add them as references in this article soon.

Whoa! That does make sense. My father used to tell me all the time that I should not play music while studying. I still played it when he was not around to notice it. His reason: music distracts the brain. I did not listen because I thought it was just his opinion.

Now, after 48 years, my son is saying the same thing in this article and he is considered an expert on the topic. I guess it's not too late to do the right thing :B!

I'm keeping my headset away :-D!!

Interesting observations. Are there any article references that might point towards this behavior under controlled experiment circumstances?

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Is Music Useful for Studying?

Music has long been a popular companion for students while studying, claiming various cognitive benefits. However, the practice also faces criticism for its potential to hinder focus and concentration. This article will explore the pros and cons of using music during study sessions, as well as delving into the science behind its effects, including the soothing genre of lofi, and its impact on memory recall.

Pros of Using Music While Studying

Enhanced Concentration: Research by Nantais and Schellenberg (1999) suggests that certain types of music can improve concentration and focus, making it easier to absorb and retain information. This is useful with all types of studying, but the research was only done on certain types of music, therefore the conclusion is limited and should be treated as such.

Mood Regulation: Music can positively influence one’s mood. Dopaminergic pathways stimulated by music, as highlighted by the study from Salimpoor et al. (2011), can alleviate stress and anxiety, which often interfere with studying. This can also help with memory retention, as studies done on this topic have found that stress gets in the way of the formation and recall of memory. Listening to music before studying and tests can help individuals get into a positive state of mind, making recall easier. 

Memory Enhancement: The “Mozart Effect” proposed by Rauscher et al. (1993) suggests that listening to classical music can temporarily enhance spatial-temporal reasoning, potentially aiding memory recall during studying. Further studies done on this topic have found that when listening to classical music while studying, and then the same music when testing, individuals tended to have better memory recall. Classical music is good for relaxation in general, and its lack of lyrics makes it perfect for studying. 

Background Noise: For some, a moderate level of ambient music can drown out distracting background noise, promoting a conducive study environment. This can fuel individuals while studying, and also lessen stress that may be caused from background noises. Rain sounds are very popular for this as well as white noise. Studies on the benefits of green, white and pink noise have found that they are great for mood regulation as they have calming effects. Listening to them can be great for not only drowning out background noise, but also allowing yourself to be calmer. 

Lofi and Brainwaves: Lofi music, known for its calming nature, has gained popularity among students. Research by Thoma et al. (2013) indicates that it can synchronize brainwaves, enhancing cognitive functions such as memory retention and recall, making it a great tool to use when studying, similarly to classical music. 

Cons of Using Music While Studying

Distraction: Music with lyrics or a fast tempo can divert attention from the study material, especially during tasks requiring high cognitive load (Perham & Currie, 2014). This can decrease focus and cause individuals to require more effort to focus and remain in that state of focus than without music. This study however, only applies to music with lyrics. 

Reduced Focus: A study by Furnham and Bradley (1997) found that music can lead to a decrease in task performance for individuals who are not accustomed to studying with music. This is referring to people who typically don't listen to music, suddenly starting to, however after an adequate amount of time, this will no longer be the case. 

Interference with Memory: While music can enhance memory in some cases, it can also hinder it. Research by Jäncke (2010) suggests that unfamiliar music may compete for cognitive resources and impair memory retention. This is due to your brain paying extra attention to the music you're listening to rather than the topic you're working on. To solve this, individuals can listen to music they already know. 

Preference Variability: Musical preferences vary greatly among individuals. What might be motivating and helpful for one student can be a source of irritation and distraction for another. Individuals, especially students, can get so caught up in picking music or making playlists that it takes time away from actually completing work and can also lead to procrastination. Using pre-selected songs or having designated study playlists can help solve this issue. 

The use of music while studying is a complex issue with both advantages and disadvantages, as evidenced by numerous neuroscience studies. The choice of music genre, individual preferences, and the nature of the study material all play significant roles in determining its effectiveness. While lofi and certain types of music can synchronize brainwaves and enhance memory recall, it’s essential for students to remain mindful of the potential for distraction and interference with focus. Ultimately, the decision to incorporate music into the study routine should be based on personal preferences and the specific demands of the task at hand. Understanding the science behind music’s effects can help students make informed choices that optimize their study experience.

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