The World of Music and Its Relation to Studying and Concentrating
The debate of use of music when studying/concentrating and what research has to offer
Written by: Gurleen Kaur
Edited by: Jack Thomson and Ankita Chatterjee
Music is a unique art form that incorporates various genres and cultural styles. Whether it be lofi, instrumental, or rap, music has the power to evoke a range of emotions and connect with people on a personal level. But, have you ever wondered how music affects your ability to concentrate and process information? Research has shown that music can have a positive impact on memory retention and stress reduction during academic tasks, making it an important topic of study in the field of neurotechnology. The benefits of this research extend beyond just students, as it can be helpful for anyone looking to enhance their focus during important tasks.
Prestigious universities such as Stanford and Harvard have conducted studies on music’s impact on studying, revealing some interesting findings. According to a Stanford study, music does not distract college students, but instead “moves the brain to pay attention.” The study utilized musical compositions from the 1800s and found that “music engages the areas of the brain involved with paying attention, making predictions, and updating the event in memory” (Baker). Another article titled “How does music affect the learning process of students?” highlights music as a key motivator for students and helpful for longer study periods, provided it is used correctly.
However, the volume and type of music played during studying should be carefully considered, as loud music can overpower the primary focus and hinder productivity. The connection between music and neurotechnology continues to be a vital area of research, as it has the potential to benefit a broader range of people looking to enhance their concentration and cognitive abilities.
How Does Music Affect Us?
To gain a better understanding of how music affects our brain, it’s important to consider the regions and functions that are essential for concentration. The frontal lobe, responsible for thinking and decision-making, can benefit from music as it enhances its functions. The hippocampus, which regulates emotional responses, produces and retrieves memories, and helps with spatial navigation, can also be impacted by music. According to Yonetani, a professor at UCF, music may increase neurogenesis in the hippocampus, leading to the production of new neurons and improving memory.
Listening to music can help us concentrate and create an optimal mood for studying, leading to more deliberate concentration and improved memory retention. In fact, research has shown that students who listen to music can recall more information. However, it’s important to note that music doesn’t need to be playing throughout the entire study session. It’s most effective to use music to get started, especially since the beginning of a study session can be the most difficult time to focus.
One genre that’s particularly useful for concentration is Lo-fi, which stands for low-fidelity. Lo-fi is a type of downtempo hip-hop music known for its relaxing and hypnotic qualities, often involving imperfections. This genre helps to calm emotions and create an ideal atmosphere for focused listening, without being too distracting.
Neurotech and Music for Brain Power
The relationship between neurotechnology and music has been explored by companies working towards enhancing productivity. One such app is Brain.fm, which uses technology to analyze users’ music preferences and create personalized background music to optimize performance. Brain.fm achieves this by using technology to elicit strong neural phase locking, which coordinates neural activity in the brain. The app also stimulates the brain with rhythmic pulses that support sustained attention, and researchers at Brain.fm work with academic collaborators to study the effects of the technology on the brain using fMRI and EEG. Electroencephalography (EEG) measures the electrical activity at the scalp, showing rhythmic brain activity that responds to Brain.fm music. Experiments show that Brain.fm technology is effective in improving focus, making it a valuable tool for various tasks.
Another company that uses music for concentration is Neurosity, which produces a physical crown that can be worn to measure brain waves and translate them into a level of focus. The Neurosity software processes and manages data collected by the crown’s EEG sensors to track and monitor brainwaves. The Crown detects Gamma brainwaves, which are emitted when the brain is focused on a task, and uses this data to determine the user’s productivity levels. When there is a shift, the Crown plays music specifically designed to help people concentrate. Neurosity has collaborated with researchers to compose music that improves focus, and users regularly experience a shift in focus within five minutes of use. The Crown has been shown to help users achieve a state of “flow” while coding for extended periods. The Neurosity app allows users to see their shifts in real-time and records music that helps them enter a state of high focus most effectively. In summary, Neurosity and Brain.fm serve as platforms for professionals and students to use music and neurotech to enhance their focus and productivity.
Instagram Polls And Music Preferences
To further visualize and diversify the data, I decided to conduct polls on social media platforms with the help of other students at UC Davis. Our target audience consisted mainly of college students or those who have recently attended college. The data we collected showed that the majority of participants voted for lo-fi and instrumental music when studying or concentrating, which supports the idea of using minimal noise changes and soft sounds to purely concentrate. These choices also suggest that people prefer to have music playing while they are studying or concentrating. Approximately 57% of the participants voted for lo-fi and instrumental music, which are ideal for studying. However, depending on the individual, more upbeat music may be needed to study or concentrate. Therefore, this result does not negate the different preferences of others. Rather, it solidifies the concept of studying behavior using softer sounds, as it uses less distracting beats so the focus is not on the music, but rather it helps motivate during the task. The data we collected from our polls supports the idea of listening to soft sounds that are less distracting for studying and concentrating. It also presents the idea that music preferences vary widely, showing that everyone has a different preference. Overall, 72.5% of the participants indicated that they need some kind of background music to study, compared to the minority of 27.5% who do not listen to music as it distracts them. Additionally, the Instagram polls indicate that listening to music while studying has a positive effect among students.
Takeaways
Productivity can increase if the music matches the nature of the task at hand. Moreover, music can have a long-lasting impact, even if it isn’t present throughout the entire study session as it sets the mind to work. One article expressed that listening to slow tempo, soft, and quiet music can help with relaxation, whereas music with faster beats and louder sections can make one alert and motivated. In other words, upbeat music can lift motivation and reduce tiredness to enhance awareness, whereas softer music allows for a smoother flow of concentration during extended study hours. For those who are accustomed to listening to music, studying without it can be more challenging. Similarly, for those who do not listen to music while studying, it can initially cause difficulty in concentration. However, with research-based music, we can observe which music fits the studying mood for each individual. The takeaway is that students should consider exploring different types of music if they find themselves struggling to study or concentrate, as there is music out there to fit every student’s preferences and study styles. If music with lyrics proves to be distracting, one can explore options such as soft instrumental music or lo-fi beats. On the other hand, if one needs something exciting to get work done, turning up some hip-hop and rap can be motivating. When studying or working on a task, it is crucial to ask oneself if the music being played is a distraction or a tool. By testing different variations and utilizing technology, one can find the best-fit music that guides optimal focus. Neurotechnology has the potential to further enhance the benefits of music on productivity and concentration, making it an exciting avenue for future research and development.
References
“Our Science.” BrainFM, https://try.brain.fm/science.
“Introducing the Crown.” Neurosity, https://neurosity.co/.
“Best Music to Listen to While Studying and Their Benefits.” Vaughn College, 11 Nov. 2020, https://www.vaughn.edu/blog/best-study-music-and-benefits/.
Music & Memory Music and Memory: Effects of Listening to Music While …https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/77348/Music%20and%20Memory.pdf?sequence=1.
“Music and the Brain: What Happens When You’re Listening to Music.” Pegasus Magazine, 30 Oct. 2019, https://www.ucf.edu/pegasus/your-brain-on-music/.
“Music and the Brain.” Neurobiology, https://neuro.hms.harvard.edu/centers-and-initiatives/harvard-mahoney-neuroscience-institute/about-hmni/archive-brain-1.
News Center. “Music Moves Brain to Pay Attention, Stanford Study Finds.” News Center, 31 July 2007, https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2007/07/music-moves-brain-to-pay-attention-stanford-study-finds.html.
