When an exam is approaching, you may have noticed that some of your friends are listening to music with headphones on and studying hard. But for others, even the slightest noise can't keep their minds focused , and they get bored studying. What's really going on? Why does this work for some, while it bothers others? Even though scientists aren't 100% sure how music affects our brains and learning, today we'll talk about some of the benefits it can bring.
What is this 'Mozart Effect'?
Research conducted in the 1990s found that listening to classical music, especially Mozart's works, improves a person's 'spatial reasoning'. Simply put, this is our ability to identify objects in a space, understand the relationships between them, and solve problems. This improvement in classical music has been dubbed the 'Mozart Effect' .
But there is a lot of debate about this. Many people have said that listening to classical music makes us 'smarter' and increases our intelligence. While some later studies have proven this to be true, other studies have shown that it doesn't have such a big effect.
However, it is now widely accepted that this Mozart effect is temporary . And it only improves your mood rather than increasing your intelligence .
So what is the 'Blur Effect'?
Another study conducted after the Mozart effect discovered something called the 'Blur Effect'. In this study, researchers had a group of children listen to songs by the British pop band 'Blur' while taking a test. Surprisingly, the children who listened to these pop songs scored better on the test than those who listened to no songs or to Mozart.
What the researchers learned from this is that for music to help you with your studies, it's important that you like the music and enjoy it . That is, rather than forcing yourself to listen to something you don't like, listening to a song you like and that makes you happy can improve your mood and help you study better.
Can music reduce stress during exams?
Stress from exams and deadlines can have a big impact on your study. Just think, a little bit of pressure when learning something can help you store memories, but too much pressure can make it difficult to retrieve those memories.
Simply put, stress can make it difficult for you to remember what you studied, but it can also make it harder for you to recall it in the exam hall. This can even lead to you failing the exam.
Continuous stress is also very harmful to your health.
| Effects of long-term stress | |
|---|---|
| Anxiety and constant worry | Insomnia problems |
| Difficulty concentrating | Difficulty thinking clearly |
| Decreased productivity | Physical health problems (e.g. high blood pressure) |
The good news is that listening to music can help you relax and reduce stress . Studies have shown that listening to music for just an hour a day can cause changes in brain cells that promote relaxation. Another study found that people who listened to classical music had lower blood pressure than those who listened to jazz or pop music.
Don't have the motivation to study? Will music help?
Yes. The tempo and pitch of music directly affect your mood. Some cells in our brain (mirror neurons) are like mirrors. They respond to the rhythm of the music we listen to. When we hear a fast tempo, our brain rhythm also speeds up and we feel excited and motivated. Similarly, when we hear slow tempo, soft music, our brain also calms down and feels relaxed.
Therefore,
- When you're bored or tired while studying: Listening to a song with a fast tempo can help you regain your energy. Take a short break while studying, listen to a song like this, do a little exercise , eat something, and then start working again.
- If you're worried about exams and can't sleep due to stress: Listening to slow, soft, instrumental music can calm your mind and help you sleep better.
What happens to focus and concentration?
There are different opinions on this matter. A study conducted in France showed that students who had soft classical music playing in the background during a lecture performed better on the relevant question paper than those who did not have it.
However, other research shows that listening to songs with lyrics can be distracting. If you focus on the words of the song, your reading comprehension may be impaired.
Remember, listening to songs with lyrics is more likely to distract you and affect your ability to understand what you are reading.
So what's best? If you want to study while listening to music, choose soft instrumental music that doesn't have lyrics and is played on guitar or other stringed instruments . Also, stay away from swelling orchestra music and songs with loud sounds, as they can distract you.
Take-Home Message
- Studying while listening to music isn't for everyone. It's a very personal thing . What works for your friend may not work for you. Experiment with what works for you.
- The biggest benefit of music is that it improves mood. So, choose music that you like and enjoy .
- To maintain focus while studying, it is best to choose soft instrumental music without lyrics .
- Use fast music to get you excited when you're bored, and slow music to calm you down and help you fall asleep.
- Sometimes, your anxiety and stress can be a sign of a more serious mental health problem. If you have mental health problems that are affecting your schoolwork or daily life, be sure to talk to your doctor about it .
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