Many students listen to music, often because it helps them study or work. Why does music have this effect on productivity? As with most things, there are multiple reasons behind music’s beneficial effect.
According to Harvard neuroscientist Srini Pillay, music helps lower stress by decreasing cortisol levels, which makes it easier to focus. A 2007 study conducted by Devarajan Sridharan et al. found it can also activate parts of the brain that are associated with detecting important events, maintaining attention and memorization. Another study done by Danyal Mahmood in 2022 found music facilitates interaction between regions of the brain that improves focus for longer periods of time and increases concentration. A paper published by Lutz Jäncke in 2008 on the association of music, emotion and memory noted that music activates the entire limbic system, which controls memory and processes emotions, thus aiding in memorizing material and relieving suppressed emotions that get in the way of focus.
The Patriot Post conducted a survey to determine what kinds of music students on campus listen to while they worked or studied. There were eight different choices of genre, and an additional “Other” option was available as well. Out of 26 American Heritage students, the most chosen response was Pop with 5 responses. Hip-hop was second-most popular with four responses. However, students generally listened to a wide variety of genres.
The survey also asked how music helped the students be productive. Many of the students said music relaxed them and helped them focus. One response said that the music provided background noise so that “I’m not just in complete silence with my thoughts,” while another said it helped them “forget about background noise.”
The chart shows how students listen to a wide variety of music genres, and sometimes not at all. Some students listen to plenty of genres rather than mostly one. (Graphic/Alex Ngo)
Many studies on music focus on the “Mozart effect,” which attributes greater IQ scores to Mozart compositions. However, studies like those conducted by Sridharan and Mahmood and the results of the survey show that more genres than just classical music have a beneficial effect. Though music’s effect on the mind is a complex topic, music of any kind undeniably boosts many people’s productivity.
