Do you have to study for a test? Before cracking open the books, it is important to create the proper environment. But does that mean turning off your MP3 player?
Scientists conducted a series of studies in the 1990s examining the influence of music on memory recall. The research supported the positive effects of background music when studying. The research also suggested that music, especially classical music, heightened arousal and mood, as it reduced blood pressure, heartbeat and stress.
The scientists drew a link between memory recall to musical tempo. A tempo of 60 beats per minute activates the right hemisphere of the brain, while the material being studied activates the left hemisphere of the brain. With both hemispheres activated, the brain can process information more efficiently.
However, the research indicated that music with too many repeated sections become distracting and is not beneficial for memory recall.
Despite all of the benefits, picking the wrong music can lead to distraction and impair studying. So what do you do? Before you turn off the tunes:
- Try listening to music without lyrics. Lyrics can be distracting, whereas instrumental music heightens concentration.
- Try listening to slow- or medium-paced music.
- Try to avoid music with loud drumbeats, like rock or heavy metal.
- Try to avoid music that is new. You may find yourself paying closer attention to music that is not familiar.
- Try playing music quietly in the background.
- Try to continue one style of studying, such as memorization or math, when listening to a particular type of music.
Do not wait until the night before the big test to determine if music is a good study aide. Conduct a few experiments and decide what type of music is most productive for you. Try reading a passage of text while different types of music — like classical, new age, techno, pop or instrumental — play in the background. Determine for yourself the music that is most effective during study sessions. You may also find studying in silence is your cup of tea.
