Many of us like to listen to music while doing our chores or even our homework, but have we actually looked that up? Don’t you feel like sometimes it’s the other way around, that the music is distracting more than helping you complete the task, especially when studying?
According to an experiment run in Cambridge Brain Science, where they tried to figure this out, and had some interesting results, they first separated 4 different types of music, from upbeat and cheery songs, to low tempo and that’d Evoque despondency. The latter is the one that proved to be the most effective in almost all kinds of activities but when it comes to memory, depending on what you’re listening to, a part of your brain may be distracted no matter the music.
Knowing this, is safe to say that it is also something determined by us and how we’ve become used to have some sort of background noise or song, Study.com researched the topic, claiming that music could help in the process of studying, writing and memorizing, since it could inspire or motivate you.
And this is also mentioned by Cambridge Brain Science when they say it should be a song interesting and inspiring and not distracting, thing that often happens. When the track is aggressive, the elements and instruments are well contrasted with each other, and there are complicated lyrics, that’s when people use to get more distracted than normal.
It also can complicate the process of comprehension of the text making it slower. According to study, those who studied while listening to music, might need to do it while taking tests to get back in the mood, but to Study.com it all seems to vary on the people, those who are easily distracted should just pass from listening to music while studying whilst the multi-taskers should really take advantage of their situation.
Study International took a look as well into this, talking about the well-known Mozart Effect, according to which, listening to music, and especially Classical Music, people would be smarter, this theory, according to Study International was popularized back in the early ‘90s.
The so-called effect was such a sensation, that people recommended putting headphones with Classical music next to the pregnant bellies, and even launched many new toys for babies that included in one way or another many notes and melodies from Classical Music. Years later another study showed there was very little evidence that would prove the connection between intelligence and listening to classical music or any music at all.
The real change that music can cause is on emotions since it’s great to release dopamine a neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of happiness and excitement. Also, the fact that you feel inspired or even just in a better mood can help you when trying to solve a problem, in comparison to a neutral or bad state of mind.
Also, if the music doesn’t inspire you or gets you in the mood, it can be used indirectly to improve your work, by just using it to relax, to get away from the problem for a little while to get back to it with a clearer mind and a lighter head. It is also known that music can reduce the levels of Cortisol, the neurotransmitter of anxiety or stress.
Music is an everyday thing, that just, in a daily basis helps us get through our days, and pass time, while doing many things. Still, it’s not always ideal when doing something that requires certain levels of concentration.
If needed, seems like the music to go to in these cases are lower tempo songs, that work as actual background and don’t require much our attention. In any case, every person is different.
Many athletes use up-tempo songs, hip hop, rap and etc, to motivate them before games. Others prefer classical music. Even some horses, before races, like the Breeders’ Cup classic, need music to calm down. Everyone has their own rhythms and it’s all about knowing yourself.
