A study reveals that listening to calming music can enhance cognitive function.

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A study reveals that listening to calming music can enhance cognitive function.

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It has been demonstrated that background music can lower the pulse rate and breathing rate, which may enhance cognitive function. Jazz, piano, and lo-fi music may improve thinking, according to the new study.

Different musical genres have been shown to aid in attention, focus, and close attention, according to a study. But another analysis demonstrates that background music might interfere with thinking (i.e., text comprehension, verbal memory).

The study’s principal investigator, Ulrich Kirk, and his colleagues were interested in learning how various types of calming background music impacted the brain and other bodily functions. Four groups of participants in the study listened to various genres of music, and a control group didn’t listen to any music at all. The study exposed three separate groups to jazz music, piano music, and lo-fi music using a between-group design. The fourth group served as a control and had no music playing.

Methodology.

108 adults without a history of heart disease or stress were chosen for this investigation. Each participant in the experiment was randomly assigned to one of four groups. The study examined the subjects’ heart rates (HRV), sustained attention, and short-term attention over the course of three days. Before and after listening to music, the participants’ levels of short- and long-term attention were assessed.

People measured their HRVs and paid attention on the first day. On the second day, the volunteers received headphones and were led into a room where their HRV was assessed while they listened to a specially curated music playlist. Their levels of sustained and acute attention were also assessed during the final five minutes of the music listening session.

The same approach and identical tunes were picked for the third day. On days two and three, one participant listened to a 15-minute recording and a 45-minute clip. The participants returned for another 15-minute music session and attention-training exercises after three weeks. Each participant was instructed to listen to the piece of music they were given at least ten times over the period of three weeks to become more familiar with it.

Results.

No matter how long they did it, the results revealed that those who listened to music performed better than those who didn’t. Whether they listened to music for 15 minutes or 45 minutes, those who listened to all three forms of music benefited over the course of the experiment.

Any amount of time spent listening to music increased HRV compared to the control group. Both the participants who listened to music and those in the control group experienced an increase in HRV throughout the trial. Both the 15- and 45-minute assessments revealed these variations.

A follow-up test after three weeks revealed that individuals who listened to music responded more quickly than those who did not. Additionally, according to the findings, participants in the music group had quicker follow-up reaction times than participants in the control group, who had no change at all. The lowest HRV was found in the control group, which didn’t listen to any music, compared to the other three music groups.

The study’s limitations, such as the absence of an active control group like rock music, are acknowledged by the authors. We may have more faith in these conclusions if additional study demonstrates that listening to soothing music impairs performance. Nobody also recorded the participants’ opinions regarding the music they were listening to. You might do better if you enjoy music in general.


Story Source: Original press release by Patricia Y. Sanchez at PsyPost. Note: Content may be edited for style and length by Scible News.


Reference.

Kirk, U., Ngnoumen, C., Clausel, A. et al. Effects of Three Genres of Focus Music on Heart Rate Variability and Sustained Attention. J Cogn Enhanc 6, 143–158 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-021-00226-3

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