benefits of listening to music while studying essay

Does Listening to Music Really Help You Study?

Experts from the department of psychology explain whether or not music is a helpful study habit to use for midterms, finals, and other exams.

By Mia Mercer ‘23

Students have adopted several studying techniques to prepare for exams. Listening to music is one of them. However, listening to music may be more distracting than helpful for effective studying.

There’s no season quite like an exam season on a university campus. Students turn to varying vices to help improve their chance of getting a good grade. While some chug caffeine, others turn up the music as they hit the books.

Although listening to music can make studying more enjoyable, psychologists from the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences have found that this popular study habit is more distracting than beneficial. 

“ Multitasking is a fallacy; human beings are not capable of truly multitasking because attention is a limited resource, and you can only focus on so much without a cost,” cognitive psychologist Brian Anderson said. “So when you’re doing two things at the same time, like studying and listening to music, and one of the things requires cognitive effort, there will be a cost to how much information you can retain doing both activities.” 

In basic terms of memory, Anderson explained that we do a better job of recalling information in the same conditions in which we learn the material. So when studying for an exam, it’s best to mimic the exam conditions. 

“If you have music going on in the background when you study, it’s going to be easier to recall that information if you also have music on in the background when you take the exam,” Anderson said. “However wearing headphones will almost certainly be a violation during most exams, so listening to music when you’re studying will make it harder to replicate that context when you’re taking an exam.” 

Even though experts suggest listening to music can hinder your ability to retain information while studying, some students choose to continue the practice. Steven Smith, cognitive neuroscientist for the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences , provided some suggestions for students who wish to continue this study habit. 

 “In general, words are distracting,” Smith shared. “So if you want to listen to music while you study, try to listen to something that does not have words, or if it does have words, hopefully, it’ll be in a language that you don’t understand at all, otherwise that’s going to distract from the stuff you’re trying to study.”

Smith also suggested listening to familiar background music, because it’s less distracting than something new or exciting. Additionally, Smith provided some principles that generally result in better exam results. 

“Make sure your studying is meaningful because comprehension gets you so much further than raw repetition,” Smith shared. “Also, you must test yourself, because it’s the only way you can learn the material; this is called the testing-effect. And finally, try to apply the spacing-effect, where you spread out your study sessions rather than cramming your studying all together, allowing for better memory of the material.”

Regardless of how students decide to study for exams, it’s important to remember that we all learn differently.

“There are individual differences between everyone,” Smith said. “Some people need a study place that is boring, predictable, and exactly the same so that they can concentrate, and others find it more beneficial to go to different places to study. It’s true that there are different personalities, so try and find what study habit works best for you.” 

• The College at Work
• Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
• Preparing for Exams

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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The Effects of Listening to Music While Studying Research Paper

Introduction, works cited.

Music is a human construct, because humans have to acknowledge and define the existence of an objective reality of sound into music. Every human culture uses music to promote its ideas and ideals and music is intrinsically interwoven in the fabric of each society. Music is considered as a powerful tool for shaping individual abilities and character, and “musicality is a universal trait of humankind.” (Hallam, Susan, 2006). “If sounds are created or combined by a human being, recognized as music by some group of people and serve some functions which music has come to serve for mankind, then those sounds are music.”(Radocy and Boyle, 1988, p.19).

With the advent of modern electronic gadgets students are exposed to more and more avenues of entertainment and study time is not devoid from the interference of these gadgets. How music, particularly background music, affect student learning is an area attracting much research, and it is finding difficult to produce conclusive evidence to support this habit.

The Oxford Dictionary defines music as “the art of combining sounds of voice(s) or instrument(s) to achieve beauty of forms and expression of emotion.” The effect of music on individual to individual will be at variance as it depends on subjective judgments of what constitutes beauty of form and expression of emotion of an individual. Miller (2000) argues that:

“music exemplifies many of the classic criteria for a complex human evolutionary adaptation. He points out that no culture has ever been without music (universality); musical development in children is orderly; musicality is widespread (all adults can appreciate music and remember tunes); there is specialist memory for music; specialized cortical mechanisms are involved; there are parallels in the signals of other species—for example, birds, gibbons and whales—so evolution may be convergent; and music can evoke strong emotions, which implies receptive as well as productive adaptations” (Hallam, 2006, p.2).

Many historical evidences show that music existed many thousands of years ago and several musical instruments were developed in different parts of the world. According to theorization of Huron (2003), music developed among different cultures as a part of courtship behavior, social cohesion, group effort, perceptual development, motor skill development, conflict reduction, safe time passing, and a mnemonic device of trans-generational communication.

Music has multiple functions which influence development of individuals, social groups and the society as a whole. Music as a medium of expressing human feelings transcend into enforcing social norms and continuity and stability of culture, at the same time contributes to the integration of society. In the perspective of an individual music is a medium for emotional expression particularly when words and verbal exchanges are difficult to establish. It has the power to influence individual mood as well as induce relaxation or stimulate mental or physical performance.

Scientific evidence show that the human brain has systems for music perception which operate from birth, enabling ‘significant nonverbal communication in the form of music’ (Gaston 1968, p.15 as quoted by Hallam p, 4). It is also suggested that participating in music generates social bonding and cultural coherence as well as formation and maintenance of group identity, collective thinking, coalition forming, and promotion of co-operative behavior.

Though there are arguments that music exists simply because of the pleasure that it affords, its basis is purely hedonic, there is no doubt that engagement with it is rewarding for human beings. Even though music has varied roles to play in individual and social development the extent to which music education is provided through state education systems internationally varies.

The approach to formal music education focuses on listening, understanding and appreciation of music, performance, and creativity or it is integrated with general arts education. However, a comprehensive music education approach has not been evolved so far. At present academicians and education professionals express deep concern about the nature, role, importance, and future of arts education in the schools in order to provide quality education to younger generations and make them successful in their future education and career development.

Much of the research results indicate that education in arts provides significant cognitive benefits and boosts academic achievement, beginning at an early age and continuing through school. Music helps to develop cognitive and higher order thinking skills necessary for academic success, as music improves individual talent in the rhythm sense, physical coordination, motor skills, critical thinking, memory recall, listening, and logic development. Research studies have shown that students who listen to music have higher spatial scores, the ability to form mental images of physical objects, on intelligence tests. (Rauseher, et al., 1994)

Among students of arts with music it is found that they learn how to work cooperatively, pose and solve problems, and forge the vital link between individual or group effort and quality of results, which are important for success in a competitive workplace. Well organized arts education contributes to building technological competencies as well as higher level thinking skills of analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating both personal experience and objective data. In addition, arts education enhances student’s respect for the cultures, belief systems, and values of their fellow learners.

Along with the advancement in scientific techniques, for studying functioning of brain, there is proportionate increase in research exploring the representation of music-related functions of the brain. Altenmuller (2003) states that “the neural systems underlying music appear to be distributed through the left and right cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, with different aspects of music processed by distinct neural circuits.”(Hallam p.11).

Further researchers opine that the majority of relevant sound information is neurally encoded, even if we are not consciously aware of it, and the attention process of the listener has important implications for the variations of their reaction to music. It is also found that music activates large parts of auditory cortex in both hemispheres of our brain. There is a wide range of music-related behaviors, such as amusia (loss of musical function), aphasia (loss of language functions), etc., which are influenced by brain functions that can be spared or impaired depending on the extent of damage to brain.

Learning occurs by the self-organization of cerebral cortex in response to external stimuli, and learning and memory are based on changes in “synaptic efficacy in the brain.” (Hallam, p.17) The brain network undergoes changes for adapting cortical remodeling, with effective connections between neurons. The brain is able to adapt quickly to environmental demands in the short and long term, and over time develops appropriate neurological structures to meet individual needs. It is evidenced that “the brain responds to behavioral needs but, once developed, enhanced brain functions operate in processing under passive listening conditions, suggesting that they are deeply engrained processing strategies shaped by years of musical experience” (ibid p.19).

LeDoux (1996) suggests that music is capable to activate phylo-genetically old parts of the nervous system that are strongly implicated in the induction of learning of fear responses which operate subconsciously (ibid p.21). When we hear music or other sounds, our emotional responses to them are controlled by amygdale, which provide a more complete cognitive assessment of the situation. In the same pattern when the students are taught about rhythm through verbal, logical explanations accompanied by musical examples, then their approach will be controlled by nature of learning. With adequate time spent in learning, the brain will develop appropriate neurological networks to retain the knowledge and skills learnt.

Research suggests that listening to music while studying may “distract attention from the studied material, thereby impeding learning.” (Tan, L. 1999). Music is every where in the life of an individual, starting from the fetus stage till the end of the life. People listen to different types of music depending on their mood, and the effects of listening to music are personal to each person, which produces different emotion to different people. Any music played while the attention of the listener is focused primarily on a task or activity other than listening to music, is defined as “background music,” and an individual engaged in studying or academic preparation may not be aware of the music in their immediate environment (Radocy & Boyle, 1988).

It may be possible that music enhances some individual’s learning, but it may be distracting to others. Researchers like Radocy & Boyle (1988) have explored the possible transfer of cognitive abilities to other curricular areas by hypothesizing that exposure to music, through participation and formal instruction can facilitate nonmusical learning. With popularization of “Mozart effect” in 1993 by Rauscher et al, claim that listening to Mozart improves intelligence, there is much argument about the potential role of music in developing intelligence, particularly in students.(Listening to music)

Research has found that positive, happy music helps the learner to remember positive facts, whereas negative, sad music helps the learner to remember negative facts, and may even hinder the recall of positive facts. As the brain has to associate the music with an emotion, and when what is being studied is comparable to the music being heard, then the music will help recall the learning. It is common among students to engage in multi-tasking, meaning watching TV, listening to music, surfing the web and chatting online while doing home work.

With multi-tasking students get a superficial understanding of the studied material. As many activities interfere with the studies leading to poor performance, it can have negative impact on learning of students. It is difficult to identify whether passive distraction affect student learning as student’s study preferences vary from individual to individual. For some students’ music functions like a shield from distractions, and for others music can produce emotional soothing.

And for those with attention-deficit disorder, who are constantly seeking stimulation, some distraction may be helpful to concentrate on their studies. If the students are able to identify their potential and they find listening to music makes them more enjoyable to do homework and studying it will be probably a good approach as long as it does not affect their learning.

The constantly changing media and influx of more and more entertainment industry activities are more likely to divide the mind and interrupt studying than what was happening with background music. However, educators need to acknowledge the power that music has to influence moods, emotions, and arousal levels as music stimulates rewards systems in the brain and engagement with it is naturally enjoyable. Through informal engagements with music in a range of social occasions, where children will have extensive exposure to a wide range of musical genres, it will be easy to amalgamate music in the life of students without interfering with their studies.

Rauscher, F., Shaw, G., Levine, L., Ky, K., and Wright, E. Music and Spatial task performance: a casual relationship. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association 102 nd Annual Convention, Los Angeles, CA.

Radocy, R.E., and Boyle, J.D. Psychological Foundations of Musical Behavior (2 nd ed). Springfield: Charles C. Thomas. 1988.

Hallam, Susan. Music Psychology in Education. London: Institute of Education, University of London. 2006. Web.

Tan, L. Effects of distracting noise on study efficacy. Journal of Psychology. 23, (233-226). 1999.

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FNU Tips The Benefits of Studying with Music

The Benefits of Studying with Music

Does Music Help You Study?

With that highly detailed Biology exam just around the corner, you have been hitting the books with every spare second you have. During nightly, starlit studying sessions, you continuously trudge past midnight, and the hours multiply. What if there was a more beneficial practice rather than spending hours upon hours of silence studying in your bedroom?

You have likely heard before that music helps you study. But, do you know why parents and professors alike are urging you to tune to iTunes? Studies have shown that music produces several positive effects on a human’s body and brain. Music activates both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory. Find out music’s effect on your body and brain, and see how to enhance your studying with songs!

Proven to Ease Student Stress

In the middle of a busy semester, students’ stress runs high. This is the perfect reason to study your class notes with music playing, — it is proven to help reduce stress!

Music is a way to process emotions and strengthen their resolve while being overwhelmed. People often turn to the music they can relate to as it helps them deal with stress in this way. So, if university life has got you feeling a bit down, dazed or distracted then it might be a good idea to put some music on while you study. Not only will it help you concentrate on your studies, it will also help keep stress at bay and put you in the learning mood.

Reduce Test Anxiety

Anxiety can become a crippling blockade between students and their textbooks. How can students beat it? Let’s pretend you were offered a free, soothing massage during each study session for the duration of your college years. You would feel lower levels of anxiety and tension as you reviewed your notes. While this might be a difficult feat for the typical college student to attain, the next best thing is readily available to pupils all over the world. Believe it or not, USA Today  reveals, “one study found that music’s effect on anxiety levels is similar to the effect of getting a massage” (Christ). It is official; your favorite tunes can reduce anxiety as much as a massage! Anxiety-stricken students should pop in the earbuds before heading to the library. They will feel relaxed, at ease, and ready to conquer chapter after chapter.

If you’re like many students suffering from anxiety and stress, try listening to rap music while studying. A study done by Cambridge University showed that hip-hop music provides an uplifting effect on its listeners that can help them accept, manage and deal better with mental health issues. There’s more than one genre of rap, so find the one you like if it means giving your brain that extra bit of support it needs.

Improve Your Performance

Music is found to help people perform better in high-pressure situations, such as the bi-annual high-pressure event that is finals week. Studies have shown that music can help students transform from coal to diamonds, shining under pressure. USA Today asks, “Want to sink the game-winning shot when the pressure’s on? Listen to some upbeat tunes before the big game. . . basketball players prone to performing poorly under pressure during games were significantly better during high-pressure free-throw shooting if they first listened to catchy, upbeat music and lyrics”(Christ). This relates to anyone combating high-pressure situations, including you and your studious peers! Grab that 80’s style boom box and turn the volume up!

It can even cure pain!

So, you arrived at the last Conquistadors basketball game, prepared to perform better after a little music therapy. Excited and energized, you played all of your best moves on the court, until you sprained your ankle landing a slam dunk. Ouch! Now, every time you attempt to study, your mind only focuses on the pounding pain in your ankle! Have you tried studying with music? According to USA Today, music is so powerful to the body that it can actually help ease the pain. Studies show that music can meaningfully reduce the perceived intensity of pain, especially in geriatric care, intensive care, or palliative medicine.

Your ankle pain and your midterm stand no chance against your favorite album and focused mind! Similar to how a lullaby would calm you, listening to music can also help you relax as by lowering your blood pressure, easing muscle tension and increasing your attention span.

It will help you focus more

Proven to improve brain functions

Musical activity serves as a cognitive exercise for the brain which trains it for more challenges in the future. Therefore, people who have musical training early on, specifically before age seven, have healthier brains and are less likely to suffer from debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s or Dementia. But you don’t have to wait for a certain age before benefitting from music. Regardless of whether you’re a freshman or senior, you can start exercising your brain now, simply by having your favorite device and earphones handy for any study session.

Music, Memory, Emotions

Several studies in recent years have linked music, memory, and emotion. To back this claim, Petr Janata has conducted two studies to prove that music, memory, and emotion are linked. His initial study found that “music serves as a potent trigger for retrieving memories.” During his second study, Janata took Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of students’ brains as he played popular songs from their childhood and teenage years. “After each excerpt, the student responded to questions about the tune, including whether it was familiar or not, how enjoyable it was, and whether it was associated with any particular incident, episode or memory” (UC Davis) . This study reveals that music, memory, and emotions and strongly linked. This evidence supports the theory that studying while listening to music is a very beneficial practice.

Ever wondered why it’s easier to memorize the lyrics to a song than the periodic table of elements? That’s because your brain looks for patterns to better understand, recall, and process information. It’s the same reason why music producers always put a hook in their songs since what is more commonly known as the earworm or catchy bit.

“Earworm” was coined in 1979 by psychiatrist Cornelius Eckert . It happens when a part of the song gets stuck in your head for an extended period of time and you can’t get it out. It just so happens, this is also one way of improving your brain’s memory, which is why some language courses are set to a musical pattern of ear-catching melodies. Some even suggest that the benefits don’t necessarily depend on the kind of music you listen to, but rather how effectively your brain latches on to the pattern of the song.

End Your Study Session with Classical Music

We now understand that music and memory are strongly linked in the brain, and that music can be beneficial to study. All that studying, however, has made you exhausted! You close the textbooks and lay beneath your blankets, but your mind is still buzzing from all of the information you’ve acquired. Can’t sleep? Well, music can even help you close out the night after studying. “Listening to classical music has been shown to effectively treat insomnia in college students, making it a safe, cheap alternative to sleep-inducing meds” (Christ).

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Works Cited

Baker, Mitzi. “Music Moves Brain to Pay Attention.” Stanford School of Medicine. Stanford School of Medicine, 01 Aug. 2007. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

Christ, Scott. “20 Surprising, Science-backed Health Benefits of Music.” USA Today. Gannett, 17 Dec. 2013. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

“Stress.” University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

“Study Finds Brain Hub That Links Music, Memory and Emotion :: UC Davis News & Information.” UC Davis News & Information. UC Davis, 23 Feb. 2009. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

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How music can affect your writing while studying

A lot of students prefer to listen to music while studying, whether they are revising materials or writing an essay. There is a popular idea that melody can help one become smarter, which originates from 1993 research conducted by Dr. Gordon Shaw. The theory was called the Mozart Effect and claimed that listening to Mozart can increase the IQ of the students. However, the theory has never been proven and further findings show little connection and evidence of such effect, the idea remains vivid among people.

Music can affect our mood and performance, yet, it is important to understand how it actually works and in what circumstances. That will hep you when you are busy studying, in case you didn’t already choose to ask help to  essay writing services  in order to get the best result with less effort.

Listening to Music Improves the Mood

There are two main critique factors when we talk about the Mozart Effect. First of all, the tasks that the students were asked to perform in original research are connected to only one type of intelligence. Secondly, the results have never been achieved a second time. It means that, despite the fact, that theory is very attractive, it is not correct.

On the other hand, the melody does impact peoples’ moods. It evokes emotions and listening to a nice tune can make us feel better. Even if you are listening to a sad song, it can improve your mood. And, overall, a better mood is good for performing tasks like studying.

The other essential influence of music is that it reduces the level of cortisol in a body. Melody can and will decrease the level of stress one is experiencing. It is especially important for students that tend to deal with lots of stress in college or university. Listening to music before a study session can make you feel better and less stressed, which will result in more efficient work on the task.

Taking this data into consideration, one might use it to make writing more pleasant and effective. For example, you can listen for half an hour for a favorite artist and then proceed with working on an essay. It will not make one smarter instantly, but it will boost the overall well-being and make one more focused on the assignment.

Memorization and Sound

The link between memory and music is also yet to be explored more sufficiently. However, several studies show how memorization is influenced by background sounds.

There is evidence that students that tried to memorize information while the sound was on, found it harder to remember it in circumstances of an exam or test, where there was no music. Overall, it is better to memorize information in the environment that is similar to the one, where you will try to revoke it in your brain.

Students that learn materials in quiet performed better. There was also a difference between listening to tunes with lyrics, without them, the music that is loved by a student and the melodies that student doesn’t like. This leads us to the next point.

The Type of Music Matters

There is a huge difference between studying while listening to songs with or without lyrics. When you are reading or writing while the lyrics are present, the brain has to multitask. The brain works on two sources of information at the same time – processing lyrics and working on writing or reading. It decreases the concentration and makes writing less effective.

However, the classic music or any other type without any lyrics doesn’t have such an effect. Some findings prove that it is beneficial for creative writing . So, if you are working on a creative writing project, a melody might help to boost imagination and set the mood. It is influential in terms of evoking emotions. However, while working on a science project it might be not so helpful and more distracting. After all, you can always benefit from compare and contrast essay writing service if the task is too overbearing.

The crucial factor is also personal preference and habits. If you have always studied with the music on, it is probably something that works for you. Some people do find it easier to concentrate with background sound.

Music can help while writing in several ways – it reduces stress and anxiety, it makes the mood better, and it can boost imagination when working on a creative assignment. However, the type of tune impacts the efficiency of the study session; the songs with lyrics make us less effective while reading or writing. But listening to something without any words can be very helpful and soothing. After all, you do what works best for you because there is no universal recipe for every student.

Vasyl Kafidoff

Vasyl Kafidoff is a professional writer at WritingMetier. He is interested in education, modern techniques and the way technology shapes the academic process and makes students’ lives easier.

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How Listening to Music Can Have Psychological Benefits

Research-backed reasons why listening to music can feel so good

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Listening to music can be entertaining, and some research suggests that it might even make you healthier. Music can be a source of pleasure and contentment, but there are many other psychological benefits as well. Music can relax the mind, energize the body, and help people manage pain better.

The notion that music can influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors probably does not come as much of a surprise. If you've ever felt pumped up while listening to your favorite fast-paced rock anthem or been moved to tears by a tender acoustic performance, then you easily understand the power of music to impact moods and even inspire action.

The psychological effects of music can be powerful and wide-ranging. Music therapy is an intervention sometimes used to promote emotional health, help patients cope with stress, and boost psychological well-being. Some research even suggests that your taste in music can provide insight into different aspects of your personality .

At a Glance

Listening to music isn't just enjoyable—it's good for you, too! Research has found that it can help your brain process information more efficiently, increase your ability to cope with stress, and even help jog your memory. Keep reading to learn more about the many different benefits of listening to music, including a few that may surprise you.

Music Can Improve Cognitive Performance

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Research suggests that background music, or music that is played while the listener is primarily focused on another activity, can improve performance on cognitive tasks in older adults. One study found that playing more upbeat music led to improvements in processing speed, while both upbeat and downbeat music led to benefits in memory.

So the next time you are working on a task, consider turning on a little music in the background if you are looking for a boost in your mental performance. Consider choosing instrumental tracks rather than those with complex lyrics, which might end up being more distracting.

Music Can Reduce Stress

It has long been suggested that music can help reduce or manage stress. Consider the trend centered on meditative music created to soothe the mind and inducing relaxation.

Fortunately, this is one trend supported by research. Listening to music can be an effective way to cope with stress.

Research has found that listening to music has an impact on the human stress response , particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system .

People who listen to music tend to recover more quickly following a stressor. Evidence also shows that high-frequency music leads to the greatest stress relief, lowering cortisol and increasing oxytocin levels.

Music Can Help You Eat Less

One of the most surprising psychological benefits of music is that it might be a helpful weight-loss tool. If you are trying to lose weight, listening to mellow music and dimming the lights might help you achieve your goals .

One study found that listening to music at its original tempo was associated with normal eating pace. Speeding up or slowing down the tempo resulted in higher food intake.

Other research suggests that when people are distracted by music or if the music contributes to increased arousal, they may disregard feelings of fullness and overeat.

The emotions people feel when listening to music can also affect eating behaviors. In one study, people were more likely to report that beer was sweeter, better tasting, and more enjoyable when they were listening to music associated with positive feelings.

However, it's important to remember that the findings on the relationship between food and music are mixed. More research is needed, but you might put this into practice by choosing background music that is at a middle-range tempo and avoiding tunes that are fast-paced and upbeat in order to minimize overeating.

Music Can Improve Your Memory

Many students enjoy listening to music while studying, but is that a great idea? Some feel like listening to their favorite music as they study improves memory , while others contend that it simply serves as a pleasant distraction.

It may help, but it also depends upon various factors, including the type of music, the listener's enjoyment of that music, and even how musically well-trained the listener may be.

In one study, musically naive students learned better when listening to positive music, possibly because these songs elicited more positive emotions without interfering with memory formation.

However, musically trained students tended to perform better on learning tests when they listened to neutral music, possibly because this type of music was less distracting and easier to ignore.

If you find yourself distracted by music, you may be better off learning in silence or with neutral tracks playing in the background.

Research on the effects of music on learning is mixed. While students often report that they find it helpful, study results often suggest that it can be distracting, particularly music with lyrics. However, listening to instrumental background music may have some benefits.

One study found that participants learning a new language showed improvement in their knowledge and abilities when they practiced singing new words and phrases versus just regular speaking or rhythmic speaking.

Music Can Help Manage Pain

Research has shown that music can be very helpful in the management of pain. One study of fibromyalgia patients found that those who listened to music for just one hour a day experienced a significant reduction in pain compared to a control condition.

In the study, patients were passively exposed to pleasant, relaxing music of their own choice as well as a control auditory condition. They then performed a timed motor task to measure their functional mobility and rated their pain levels. 

The results found that listening to music before the task helped reduce pain and increased mobility.

A 2015 review of research on the effects of music on pain management found that patients who listened to music before, during, or even after surgery experienced less pain and anxiety than those who did not listen to music.  

While listening to music at any point in time was effective, the researchers noted that listening to music pre-surgery resulted in better outcomes. The review looked at data from more than 7,000 patients and found that music listeners also required less medication to manage their pain.

There was also a slightly greater, though not statistically significant, improvement in pain management results when patients were allowed to select their own music.

Music May Help You Sleep Better

Insomnia is a serious problem that affects people of all age groups. While there are many approaches to treating this problem, research has demonstrated that listening to relaxing music can be a safe, effective, and affordable remedy.​

One review of the research found that music had a beneficial impact on sleep quality. Some evidence suggests that music could also improve how quickly people fall asleep and increase sleep duration, but more research is needed.

Another study found that listening to relaxing music before a nap improves subjective and objective sleep quality measures. People reported feeling that they slept better, and listening to music was associated with increased slow-wave sleep (aka deep sleep ).

Music Can Improve Motivation

There is a good reason why you find it easier to exercise while you listen to music. Researchers have found that listening to fast-paced music motivates people to work out harder.

One study found that people exercise significantly longer when listening to music than without. Another study found that listening to high tempo music during high-intensity exercise can improve performance without causing people to feel like they are exerting themselves harder. In other words, while you might be exercising harder, it doesn't feel harder when you are listening to music.

So if you are trying to stick to a workout routine, consider loading up a playlist filled with fast-paced tunes that will help boost your motivation and enjoyment of your exercise regimen.

Music Can Improve Mood

Another of the science-backed benefits of listening to music is that it just might make you happier. Research suggests that listening to music can help boost your happiness, mood, and subjective well-being in several ways:

• It helps enhance social connections, particularly during shared musical experiences like concerts
• It helps support better cognitive health in older adults
• Playing an instrument can improve cognition and well-being
• Combining music with dance and movement can help improve mood and well-being
• Music can help marginalized people feel more connected and empowered and increase overall well-being and self-esteem

Researchers suggest that listening to music can be a highly pleasurable experience that increases positive emotions and promotes the release of dopamine , a neurotransmitter tied to pleasurable feelings.

Music May Reduce Symptoms of Depression

Researchers have also found that music therapy can be a safe and effective treatment for a variety of disorders, including depression .

One study found that music therapy was a safe, low-risk way to reduce depression and anxiety in patients suffering from neurological conditions such as dementia, stroke, and Parkinson's disease.

While music can certainly have an impact on mood, the type of music is also important. Classical and meditation music offer the greatest mood-boosting benefits, while heavy metal and techno music are ineffective and even detrimental.

Music Can Improve Endurance and Performance

Another important psychological benefit of music lies in its ability to boost performance. While people have a preferred step frequency when walking and running, scientists have discovered that the addition of a strong, rhythmic beat, such as fast-paced musical track, could inspire people to pick up the pace.  

Runners are not only able to run faster while listening to music; they also feel more motivated to stick with it and display greater endurance. The ideal tempo for workout music is somewhere between 125 and 140 beats per minute.

While research has found that synchronizing body movements to music can lead to better performance and increased stamina, the effect tends to be the most pronounced in cases of low to moderate intensity exercise. In other words, the average person is more likely to reap the rewards of listening to music more than a professional athlete might.

So why does music boost workout performance? Listening to music while working out lowers a person's perception of exertion. You're working harder, but it doesn't seem like you're putting forth more effort.

Because your attention is diverted by the music, you are less likely to notice the obvious signs of exertion such as increased respiration, sweating, and muscle soreness.

Listening to music can inspire and entertain, but it also has powerful psychological effects that can improve your health and well-being. Instead of thinking of music as pure entertainment, consider some of the major mental benefits of incorporating music into your everyday life. You might find that you feel more motivated , happier, and relaxed as a result.

Gold BP, Frank MJ, Bogert B, Brattico E. Pleasurable music affects reinforcement learning according to the listener . Front Psychol . 2013;4:541. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00541

Lata F, Kourtesis I. Listening to music as a stress management tool .  Eur Psychiatry . 2021;64(Suppl 1):S609. doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1621

Sato N, Miyamoto M, Santa R, Homma C, Shibuya K. The effect of background music tempo on eating speed and food intake volume within in healthy women .  Nutr Health . doi:10.1177/02601060231158234

Pereira LJ, van der Bilt A. The influence of oral processing, food perception and social aspects on food consumption: a review .  J Oral Rehabil . 2016;43(8):630-648. doi:10.1111/joor.12395

Reinoso-Carvalho F, Dakduk S, Wagemans J, Spence C. Not just another pint! The role of emotion induced by music on the consumer's tasting experience .  Multisens Res . 2019;32(4-5):367-400. doi:10.1163/22134808-20191374

Cui T, Xi J, Tang C, Song J, He J, Brytek-Matera A. The relationship between music and food intake: A systematic review and meta-analysis .  Nutrients . 2021;13(8):2571. doi:10.3390/nu13082571

Gold BP, Frank MJ, Bogert B, Brattico E. Pleasurable music affects reinforcement learning according to the listener .  Front Psychol . 2013;4:541. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00541

Souza AS, Leal Barbosa LC. Should we turn off the music? Music with lyrics interferes with cognitive tasks .  J Cogn . 2023;6(1):24. doi:10.5334/joc.273

Ludke KM, Ferreira F, Overy K. Singing can facilitate foreign language learning . Mem Cognit. 2014;42(1):41-52. doi:10.3758/s13421-013-0342-5

Garza-Villarreal EA, Wilson AD, Vase L, et al. Music reduces pain and increases functional mobility in fibromyalgia .  Front Psychol . 2014;5:90. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00090

Hole J, Hirsch M, Ball E, Meads C. Music as an aid for postoperative recovery in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis . Lancet . 2015;386(10004):1659-71. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60169-6

Jespersen KV, Pando-Naude V, Koenig J, Jennum P, Vuust P. Listening to music for insomnia in adults .  Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2022;8(8):CD010459. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010459.pub3

Cordi MJ, Ackermann S, Rasch B. Effects of relaxing music on healthy sleep .  Sci Rep . 2019;9(1):9079. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-45608-y

Thakare AE, Mehrotra R, Singh A. Effect of music tempo on exercise performance and heart rate among young adults .  Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol . 2017;9(2):35-39.

Maddigan ME, Sullivan KM, Halperin I, Basset FA, Behm DG. High tempo music prolongs high intensity exercise .  PeerJ . 2019;6:e6164. doi:10.7717/peerj.6164

Dingle GA, Sharman LS, Bauer Z, et al. How do music activities affect health and well-being? A scoping review of studies examining psychosocial mechanisms .  Front Psychol . 2021;12:713818. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713818

Croom AM. Music, neuroscience, and the psychology of well-being: A précis .  Front Psychol . 2012;2:393. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00393

Raglio A, Attardo L, Gontero G, Rollino S, Groppo E, Granieri E. Effects of music and music therapy on mood in neurological patients . World J Psychiatry. 2015;5(1):68-78. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i1.68

Snyder KL, Snaterse M, Donelan JM. Running perturbations reveal general strategies for step frequency selection . J Appl Physiol. 2012;112(8):1239-47. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01156.2011

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Listening to Music While Studying: Can Eric Stewart Music Help You Write an Essay?

Probably each of us has certain rituals or tricks that help us concentrate and become our most productive selves while studying. For some, it might be a short walk or exercising. But, one of the most commonly used tricks is listening to the right kind of background music while studying and writing essays, in particular.

Does listening to music help you study? It might. Numerous studies confirm that listening to certain types of music can have a very positive effect on one’s brain, boosting cognitive functions and helping you stay focused longer.

According to our survey, 87% of school and college students prefer listening to music while writing their papers. The majority of them prefer the music by Eric Stewart, and all of them are confident that it helps them study better.

So, can listening to music really help me write my essay for me ? And, if so, what kind of essay music is the best? If these are the questions you have in mind, you’ve come to the right place because this article will tell you about all the benefits of listening to music while writing essays and the benefits of listening to Eric Stewart 10cc, in particular!

Eric Stewart Music for Writing Essays

So, why should you listen to music while studying? It is proven that listening to music while studying can have real benefits. But, the big question is what kind of music to choose?

As we mentioned earlier, a survey among students has shown that a large share of them finds music to be very helpful in studying and writing essays. Many respondents also highlighted that an important place in their playlists for studying is taken by a famous musician Eric Stewart. What makes his songs a great option for your own “essay writing music” playlist?

As over 60% of students from the institutions noted, the music by Eric Stewart 10cc makes it “easier to study.” There are several reasons for that. Since 10cc is an iconic British music band from the 70s, many students know their music pretty well. And, if you are wondering how this helps, specialists recommend listening to essay music you know in order not to get distracted by it.

Secondly, Eric Stewart and his band have a very broad repertoire that contains songs to match all tastes. This makes it easy for everyone to find something that works for them.

Finally, one more reason why respondents said they enjoy listening to Eric Stewart while studying is that his energetic and fun tunes can help you get in the right mood for essay writing and stay motivated.

Sounds good enough to try it yourself, right? But wait, there is more! Read on to learn about the real benefits of listening to music while writing essays, about the possible cons, and about a reliable essay writing service that can help even when music isn’t helping.

Pros of Using Music for Writing Essays

Unless you are writing an essay on music, it may not be very obvious to play some songs in the background while working on it. However, you might be surprised by how many benefits it can give you if you have the right playlist for custom writing and studying.

Namely, there are 3 major perks you can enjoy if you play background music while writing your academic papers:

• Better focus - Although some may find music distracting, it can be very helpful in terms of getting focused because it can help you control all the other distractions and reduce the noise.
• Improved mood - Probably no one likes writing papers because it can be very boring, stressful, and not really fun whatsoever. However, with the right playlist that includes your favorite artists like Eric Stewart and others, you can boost your mood.
• Less stress - Finally, scientists have long proven that music can help you defeat stress and reduce anxiety.

All these benefits prove that listening to music can be helpful not only when you are assigned with essay writing on music, in particular, but also in many other cases when you need to write a paper quickly, easily, and with no stress.

Cons of Listening to Essay Writing Music

Despite a huge number of possible benefits, we have to admit that listening to music while studying might not be a thing for everyone. Even if you choose good essay writing music, there is always a chance that it can do more harm than good.

Here are some of the main shortcomings of this approach that you may face:

• Unwanted distraction - Some people just can’t stand extraneous sounds during work or studies. In this case, what was supposed to help you turns into a huge distraction and can’t do any good.
• Decreased productivity - Since it can be a major distraction, listening to music while studying can have a negative effect on your productivity.
• Doesn’t work for all kinds of tasks - Finally, one more drawback is the fact that listening to music may not be helpful on all occasions as there are some tasks that require maximum concentration. For example, reading a book can be rather hard if you listen to music with words.

These are the main cons you may face. But, is there a way to avoid them, you may wonder? Probably the only way to avoid issues is to experiment and find what works best for you.

Can Music Motivate You to Write?

So, is it good to listen to music while studying? Music is proven to have a whole range of effects on the human body, both on physical and emotional levels.

When you listen to the music you actually like, it boosts your mood and can even make you more motivated. Thus, if you really enjoy Eric Stuart’s music, go for it, and it will help you stay motivated and, thus, do better with your assignments. So, the main thing students should keep in mind when deciding whether it is worth playing some background music while writing an essay is to give preference to something they like.

Also, playing your favorite songs in the background can make the process less boring. This way, you will stop perceiving essay writing as a form of torture and may finally start enjoying it, which also influences motivation.

Besides, studies show that listening to music can significantly reduce stress levels, which, as we all know, always rise when one is working on such a complex and time-consuming task as essay writing.

Thus, based on everything that has been said, the answer to the question, “can music help you study?” is definitely yes, it can!

Have Troubles With Writing Your Essay?

Although listening to music can help you write an essay, if this doesn’t work, we have a solution that will definitely help in any situation.

When you are running out of time or can’t handle your task, our essay service is all you need! Turning to our EssayService, students can pay for essay and get professionally written paper from top-level writers to boost their grades. Entrust us to write your essay on music or any other subject and we will help you succeed!

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The Benefits of Listening to Classical Music While Studying

If you’ve ever spent seemingly endless hours studying , you’re probably familiar with the frustration and boredom that can arise.

Even though you know studying will help you in the long run, there’s an easy temptation to call it a night.

But don’t throw in the towel! Instead, try a study aid that can lift your mood, increase work speed, and calm the mind during study time.

The trick is classical music. You may have heard about classical music and its effects on the brain.

Classical music is reported to enhance brain power if you have it in the background while you’re studying or working.

But how does classical music differ from other background noise when it comes to increasing intellectual performance?

Let’s take a look at some scientific evaluations of classical music:

Proof in Productivity 

The relationship between classical music and the brain has been well studied over the years.

One of these studies took place in 1993 when researchers examined the effects of Mozart and if it helped people score higher on an IQ test.

Although this particular study is now discredited, it forever popularized the idea that classical music helps people study. 

And while Mozart or any other composer won’t magically make you smarter, this rumor inspired many other musical studies.

These later tests highlight more scientifically-sound benefits of listening to classical music .

Researchers in the United Kingdom conducted a study analyzing the effects of classical music on office workers.

In the study, two groups of workers were assigned to transcribe 600 words. One group listened to classical music while working and the other group worked with no music. The group that listened to classical music while working reported a 15% increase in productivity. 

Another study in France highlighted a specific correlation between academic performance and listening to classical music.

Students who listened to a lecture with classical music in the background scored higher on a lecture quiz than students who listened without classical music.

Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany conducted a study that uncovered strong links between music and creative productivity.

The study highlighted how happy, bouncy, upbeat music garnered creative thinking by causing the brain to function with divergent thinking. 

Divergent thinking is when brain activity switches into a mode that increases creativity, so the brain diverges into new lines of thought.

Any music that you find uplifting can help you shift into divergent thinking, and classical music is a great place to start. 

Bedtime with Bach

Canadian scientists performed a study to examine whether classical music could potentially alleviate insomnia.

University of Toronto research indicated classical music before bedtime helped people get to sleep by reducing their brainwave activity.

Less brainwave activity means a state of relaxation and less anxiety, thus helping the participants slip into a peaceful night of sleep.

Research from Baylor University uncovered a correlation between classical music and Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR). TMR is a process that helps the brain store information in a way that is more lasting and memorable.

The study revealed that students who listened to classical music during a lecture and again before sleeping retained more information than the control group who didn’t listen to any music.

The students that listened to music demonstrated an 18% improvement in scores when they were tested the next day.

Another benefit of classical music worth noting is that slower tempo pieces are more akin to a resting heart rate, so classical rhythms allow the body to calm down, in contrast to the effects of rap or pop music.

​If you’re looking to get to sleep, then avoid any epic overtures and look for more downbeat pieces.

Potential Emotional Benefits

Classical music has a plethora of emotional benefits alongside psychological benefits. Research discovered that the brain releases more dopamine when listening to classical music.

Dopamine improves mood by producing a feel-good pleasurable effect in the brain. Therefore, the increase in dopamine causes listeners of classical music to experience a boost in happiness.

Raising dopamine levels can be useful when treating conditions such as depression or anxiety. Although it is certainly not an automatic cure for depression, it can certainly help boost mood and when used in conjunction with proper therapy and medication, can help you lead a happier, music-filled life. 

Choosing the Right Songs

The world of classical music is so wide and expansive, it can feel overwhelming to figure out what to listen to. How do you pick the right songs to increase motivation and productivity and feelings of pleasure?

To start, try to avoid grand orchestral pieces. Although it can be exciting to hear something like the William Tell Overture or Beethoven’s Fifth, pieces like those may prove to be too distracting for a study session or while you’re trying to get work done.

Anything with a rapid beat, crashes, or a sweeping, grandiose aesthetic might be more suitable for leisure listening. 

Simpler arrangements that utilize just a few instruments are a good starting point. Listening to solo piano compositions is a great place to start.

Simple arrangements are conducive to a more mindful, focused, studious environment. Try listening to these pieces:

• Impromptu No. 3: Franz Schubert 
• The Draughtsman’s Contract: Michael Nyman
• The Well-Tempered Clavier: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Piano Concerto No. 23: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Gymnopédie No. 1: Erik Satie
• Nocturnes: Frédéric Chopin
• Metamorphosis Series: Philip Glass
• Moonlight Sonata: by Ludwig van Beethoven
• Organ Concertos: by George Frideric Handel
• The Blue Danube Waltz: Johann Strauss II

The right music can be a huge benefit to anyone that’s trying to study or work .

Classical music is one of the best places to start because of the extensive scientific research behind its benefits on the mind. Movie soundtracks are another great place to find study music.

The films Interstellar (Hans Zimmer), Marie Antoinette and If Beale Street Could Talk have musical selections inspired from classical and jazz pieces that set the right tone for a studious ambiance and for focused work time. 

Of course, no two people are exactly alike, so it makes sense that no two people have the exact same music tastes.

You may very well find classical music to be annoying or unhelpful when it comes to trying to create an environment conducive to productivity or relaxation.

The only way to find what works best for you is to explore different genres and subgenres. Maybe jazz works best for you, or only certain eras of classical music.

Nevertheless, it’s totally worth it to give it a shot the next time you want to be productive .

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• IAS Preparation
• UPSC Preparation Strategy
• UPSC Preparation Listening To Music While Studying

UPSC Preparation: Does Listening to Music Help while Studying?

The UPSC civil services exam 2021 prelims will be held on June 27th 2021 and the IAS mains exams is planned to be held on September 17 2021. Lakhs of youngsters across the country will take a shot at this prestigious exam. The competition is intense and this is evident from the dismal pass percentage of less than 1%. Candidates have a tough time trying to complete the vast UPSC Syllabus .

There are a lot of recommended study techniques designed to increase a student’s concentration and retention capabilities. One of them is listening to music while studying . This method is actually employed by many students and some swear by it. But there are a lot of contradictory studies in this regard. While some studies recommend listening to music, others don’t suggest this because of several reasons. This article explores the benefits and drawbacks of listening to music while studying.

Benefits of Listening to Music While Studying

The following are the benefits of listening to music while studying for UPSC exam

• It enhances your attention. Having background music can help you focus.
• Studies have shown that listening to music improves your memory and this phenomenon is called the ‘Mozart Effect’.
• It is seen that listening to music also improves your ability to do mental maths.
• Music can calm people who feel the pressure or stress up during IAS exam preparation.
• Listening to music releases dopamine which is a neurotransmitter that controls the brain pleasure centres. This means that listening to music relaxes an individual.

Drawbacks of Listening to Music While Studying

Following are the drawbacks of listening to music while studying for the Civil Services Examinatio n

• It is observed that depending on the type of music you are listening to, it can negatively impact your ability to concentrate.
• It is observed that loud music is a distractor.
• When you are memorising something in a particular sequence, listening to music may not help you while studying.
• Lyrics in the music can sometimes distract and diminish your cognitive abilities.

Things to keep in mind while listening to music while studying

• Don’t listen to music in full volume. Let the volume be minimum for maximum benefit.
• Avoid music with lyrics because it may affect your ability to concentrate on your studies.
• The best music to listen to is classical music as it is harmonious. This has been proved by studies as well.
• You can listen to peaceful instrumental music also.
• Avoid too loud and heavy rhythmic music. If you are a fan of heavy metal, you can listen to it in your free time! This is a personal choice, of course. But studies have pointed out the benefits of quiet and harmonious music while studying.
• You can also listen to chants, sounds of nature like rain, animals, etc. They have a relaxing and calming effect.
• Make sure to select the playlist beforehand. Don’t spend time in between your studies selecting your favourite song.
• Keep the playlist for 50-60 minutes. This way you will know when it is time for a small break.
• Avoid music on the radio while studying. The RJ’s talk and ads in between are sure to distract you.
• If you haven’t tried listening to music while studying earlier, do try it once. But if you feel it doesn’t work for you and does more harm than good, it is better to study without music.

Candidates preparing for the IAS Exam should know the eligibility criteria for the UPSC Exam mentioned in the linked article.

The above details would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2021 .

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• Neuroscience

Why Is Listening to Music So Pleasurable?

Exploring the fascinating overlap between the enjoyment of a melody and a meal..

Posted May 14, 2024 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

• The joy of listening to music is shaped by our musical experience as a teen and our cultural background.
• The pleasure of music is processed in the phylogenetically newer frontal cortex.
• Music pleasure also relies on primitive reward-related structures that allow the enjoyment of eating.

Restaurateurs want you to enjoy your dining experience. However, it’s not only about the food: ambiance matters. The music within each restaurant is carefully chosen according to the presumed tastes of their clientele with the goal of enhancing the experience of eating. Scientists know quite a lot about the brain mechanisms that reward us for eating; little is known about how the brain interprets the aesthetic experience of listening to music and whether they activate similar brain regions.

The joy of eating is processed by a set of brain regions that constitute the classic reward circuit. These include the ventral tegmental area, where all our dopamine neurons live, the nucleus accumbens (the most important reward center), the insula cortex, and a small region of cortex on the middle face of the frontal lobes.

This circuitry has been conserved by evolution and appears in similar locations, usually similar neurotransmitters, in reptiles, birds, and mammals. Yet, the ability to experience pleasure from music is considered a uniquely human trait (although birds interpret pitch differently than humans do, they will move rhythmically to music). The enjoyment of food is innate and highly preserved across species for an extremely good reason: survival. In contrast, musical preferences are shaped by whatever we listen to as teens and cultural background (Greenberg et al., 2015). Neuroimaging studies suggest that that music-induced pleasure is mediated by the communication between the ancient reward circuitry involving dopamine and higher-order cortical regions.

In a recent study (Mas-Herrero et al., 2020), hedonic responses to food were used as a control condition to determine common and distinct brain responses associated with the pleasure of listening to music. The authors hypothesized that the pleasure of listening to music would be processed in the phylogenetically newer prefrontal cortex as compared to the pleasure of eating. They conducted a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies that investigated brain responses to music- and food-induced pleasure.

Music, as compared to food, appears to have some unique reward circuitry in the brain. These areas are particularly important.

The ventral striatum (and the nucleus accumbens in particular) is often referred to as the brain’s most important pleasure center. The pleasures of eating and listening to music powerfully activate the ventral striatum. One of the main inputs to this region is the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. When scientists pharmacologically enhanced the function of dopamine in this area, the patients reported significantly enhanced feelings of subjective pleasure described as “music-induced chills” (Ferreri et al., 2019). In contrast, blocking the actions of dopamine completely reduced the music-induced emotional responses.

Learning is also crucial for the experience of musical pleasure. One area called the superior temporal gyrus (located conveniently next to each ear) is responsible for perceiving the characteristics of music, such as pitch, tonal pattern, and musical imagery, and for helping us remember that we like those characteristics.

An area of the cortex called the inferior frontal gyrus is activated while listening to pleasant music, but only on the right side of the brain. This is consistent with a long-held view that the right hemisphere is responsible for processing music rather than language. People who suffer with amusia (a deficit in music perception and production) show significant anomalies in the right inferior frontal cortex.

The ventral-medial prefrontal cortex (located just a few inches behind the bridge of your nose) responds to both food- and music-induced pleasure and then informs the ventral striatum. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown that activation of this brain area consistently correlates with subjective reports that the music they are listening to is considered pleasurable. Recent studies have shown that music activates anterior portions of the prefrontal cortex more reliably than food rewards. Patients with frontotemporal lobe dementia may develop musicophilia, a specific craving for music.

The insula, a region of the brain that tells you whether you like or dislike a particular sensory experience, was consistently engaged across both music and food rewards. This is not surprising, given that the insular cortex is an integration hub involved in sensory, cognitive, motivational and emotional functions.

Overall, recent studies have provided clear evidence that music-induced pleasure relies on the engagement of both higher-order cortical regions involved in auditory cognition and somewhat primitive reward-related structures that are usually associated with the enjoyment of eating. (For more about the effect of eating on the brain, see my book Your Brain on Food .)

Mas-Herrero E, et al., (2020) Common and distinct neural correlates of music and food-induced pleasure: a coordinate-based meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.008.

Ferreri L, et al., (2019) Dopamine modulates the reward experiences elicited by music. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 116, 3793–3798. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1811878116

Greenberg DM, et al., (2015) Musical preferences are linked to cognitive styles. PLoS ONE 10, e0131151. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131151

Gary L. Wenk, Ph.D. , is a professor of psychology, neuroscience, molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics at the Ohio State University.

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