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When you’re cramming for a test or trying to complete a last-minute paper, you’ll go to any lengths to gain a slight edge in terms of efficiency. Studying can be a stressful experience, especially if you have an exam date or deadline looming. For many years, it was thought that studying in complete silence was the best way to learn and retain information. However, recent research suggests that many people benefit from listening to music while they read or work.
Much of how our brains work is still a mystery, but we do know that music can have a calming and relaxing effect on the mind while also helping us to focus. Some types of music may be better than others, and there’s a growing number of students who like to put in headphones while they study. In this article, you’ll learn more about the power of music and how it can help you pass your next test.
Accessibility
Back in the day, you’d have to carry around a heavy Walkman CD player and a collection of CDs if you wanted to listen to music on demand. Today, it’s easier than ever to listen to millions of artists across an unfathomable range of genres and styles. Better yet, music is available on the go. Even if you don’t have music downloaded on your current mobile, you can log into your account and sync an Apple Music library across devices.
When studying, it’s easy to access a range of albums and songs, and it’s even possible to curate your own personal playlists of music that help you relax. This is a massive advantage for studying, where the right music really makes all the difference. In addition, noise-cancelling headphones help block out sounds from the outside world, ensuring you can focus on what’s important.
Music Boosts Cognitive Performance
Extensive research has been carried out to test the effects of music on the human brain and its performance. Multiple studies have shown that listening to music may have an impact on cognitive performance, with some artists and genres having a more positive effect than others. A 2017 study, for example, showed that participants were more effective at memory games when listening to Albinoni’s classical music compared to Mozart.
Other studies have suggested that music, particularly when played at loud volumes, could lead to a decline in the ability to perform complex tasks. However, these studies have also revealed that music may still improve cognitive performance when carrying out simpler tasks. More research needs to be done in this area, but it seems that the genre and personal preferences of the participants may make a lot of difference.
Music and Memory
When studying, you need your memory to be in its best possible state. Anecdotally, music and memories have a strong connection. Most people who enjoy listening to music will have particular songs that remind them of a specific moment or time in their lives. Listening to that song can help you recall the memories of that time vividly.
Lots of research has also been done into the effects of music on memory and the ability to form new memories. A study into facial recognition and recall suggested that listening to emotionally touching music had a stronger effect on recall compared to listening to the sounds of rain or happy music. However, silence also had a similar effect.
Other studies have shown that classical music, in particular, has had a positive effect on students’ ability to categorise information. What do these results mean? Well, you don’t have to give up your favourite playlist to listen to Beethoven while studying, unless you want to, of course. Instead, you should do what you find works best for you. Experiment with different genres and volumes to find your perfect study.
