Studying with song: How music can help you learn

Question

The claim that music can aid learning, as presented in the Coppell Student Media article, is only partially supported by scientific research. The effectiveness of music during study sessions depends on a plethora of different factors.​ A study published in The Times found that listening to upbeat instrumental music, or "groovy" music, can enhance cognitive performance and mood. Participants who listened to such music completed tasks 7% faster without compromising accuracy and reported an improved mood. The researchers attributed these benefits to the rhythmic qualities of the music enhancing both mood and mental agility.​ However, other studies do suggest that the impact of background music on learning is influenced by individual differences and the nature of the task. If it's a mindless piece of homework, it's easier to knock it out with some music playing. But if it's an assignment that requires lots of focus and thinking, music can be a distraction. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology indicated that background music's effect on learning outcomes is moderated by the learner's working memory capacity. Specifically, individuals with higher working memory capacity showed improved comprehension when studying with background music, whereas those with lower capacity performed better without it.

Answer 1

The headline refers to a Coppell Student Media piece (Apr 22 2025) claiming that “studying with song” boosts learning, and it cites a Times report on an NYU experiment where people listening to “groovy” instrumental tracks finished a reaction-time task 7 % faster without losing accuracy. The underlying research is a 280-person randomized study published in PLOS One that played four 10-minute audio backdrops (office noise, pop hits, ‘deep-focus’ ambient, or a purpose-built “Work Flow” track). Only the rhythmic Work Flow music improved both mood and processing speed. MusicRadarPLOS

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0316047

However, the PLOS One trial tested a brief flanker task, not real study or memory work, and it did not measure long-term learning. Its authors caution that “further research is needed to confirm effects on academic performance.”

A much-cited Frontiers in Psychology experiment (Lehmann & Seufert 2017) shows why background music helps some learners and hurts others. Eighty-one college students read a science text either in silence or while two pop songs played. Comprehension scores rose with music only for students who scored high on working-memory capacity; those with lower capacity did better in silence. The authors conclude that background music is a “seductive detail” that competes with the text for cognitive resources unless the learner has spare working-memory bandwidth. Frontiers

Overall, controlled evidence suggests that certain types of instrumental, rhythmic (“groove”) music can lift mood and speed up simple cognitive processing, which may support light, routine homework. But for tasks that tax verbal working memory—reading dense material, solving math proofs, writing essays—music (especially with lyrics) often impairs comprehension or slows performance, and individual differences (working-memory span, musical preference, ADHD traits) moderate the effect.

Music can help some learners under specific conditions (instrumental, moderately fast, enjoyable tracks; low-language tasks; high-capacity listeners), but it can just as easily distract others. The blanket claim that “music helps you learn” is misleading—students should experiment to see whether the right playlist aids their particular study task or whether silence is smarter.

Comments

Your fact-check is thoughtful and well-researched, especially in how it distinguishes between the original claim and what the studies actually measured. I appreciate that you traced the Coppell headline back to the PLOS One study and correctly pointed out that it tested short-term task performance, not deep or long-term learning. Bringing in the Frontiers in Psychology study was also a strong move—it adds necessary nuance about individual working memory and task type. One suggestion: you might want to mention how the media simplified the takeaway from these studies, which could mislead students into thinking music helps universally. This would strengthen your critique of the claim’s generalization.

Answer 2

The claim that music can aid learning, as presented in the Coppell Student Media article, is only partially supported by scientific research. The effectiveness of music during study sessions depends on a plethora of different factors.​ A study published in The Times found that listening to upbeat instrumental music, or "groovy" music, can enhance cognitive performance and mood. Participants who listened to such music completed tasks 7% faster without compromising accuracy and reported an improved mood. The researchers attributed these benefits to the rhythmic qualities of the music enhancing both mood and mental agility.​ However, other studies do suggest that the impact of background music on learning is influenced by individual differences and the nature of the task. If it's a mindless piece of homework, it's easier to knock it out with some music playing. But if it's an assignment that requires lots of focus and thinking, music can be a distraction. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology indicated that background music's effect on learning outcomes is moderated by the learner's working memory capacity. Specifically, individuals with higher working memory capacity showed improved comprehension when studying with background music, whereas those with lower capacity performed better without it.

Comments

The sources you used in this fact-check take slightly different stances on this topic, which supports your point that this claim is misleading since the research proves that the answer to the claim is more broad and applies on a case-by-case basis.

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I appreciate the depth of your research on how music affects learning, particularly your mention of individual differences in working memory. However, I'm a bit skeptical about your reliance solely on the article from The Times. While it's reputable, mainstream news sometimes oversimplifies scientific findings. It might be beneficial to cross-reference that study with peer-reviewed articles or more directly scientific sources like journals from PubMed or Psychology Today. Did you encounter any other studies that directly replicated or contradicted these findings?

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Your answer correctly points out how this claim is only partially supported by evidence. While a series of studies have found that upbeat music can lead to an increase in performance, other studies have found that sometimes background music can be distracting, potentially hurting performance.

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I also agree, I think music can really make a difference in your performance of anything! Vibrations and patterns can align the body and mind in a completely different way!

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i agree, and in hindsight, it depends on person to person and what works for them individually.

Answer 3

Looking in an article from the University of Maryland, Phyllis Medina, a program director of psychology, mentioned how it has to be the right choice of music such as instrumental or ambient could block out other distractions, improve concentration, and maintain attention during study sessions. Medina also suggested that instrumental music would be more beneficial because it prevents the one studying, from getting caught up in song lyrics which could also distract studying. Another article from the National University has Dr. Masha Godkin, who was a professor in the Department of Marriage and Family Sciences, saying that music helps activate both the left and right hemisphere at the brain at the same time. This is beneficial because when both sides of the brain are activated, it can maximize learning and memory. It is also recommended that the music has to be the right kind, not music that will put you to sleep, but also not music that is overly upbeat and encourages you to dance or move. Those things would be a distraction. Ultimately, I believe that this is a little misleading, music is so different from genre to genre, and not everyone operates or performs better with music. It has to be a certain type of music and even then, not everyone is a fan of ambient or instrumental music and may prefer studying in silence. Music without words is always the recommended method, for example in another article from Texas A&M University, ” 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.” It is essentially multitasking which not everyone is good at.

https://www.nu.edu/blog/can-music-help-you-study-and-focus/

 https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study

https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/blog/2021/03/10/does-listening-to-music-really-help-you-study/

Comments

I agree with your points, and it's helpful that you pointed out objective effects of listening to music, as it can aid studying and distract one from studying, depending on the individual which is important to think about in this topic, being that it cannot be the same for everyone, even if it does show improvement for others proved by Brian Anderson.

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The addition of the portions of the brain that are activated showcase the extent of the depth of the study. I appreciate this detail as it is a strong, tangible piece of supporting evidence that allows for those skeptical of the effects to find maybe have a more open mind on the topic (no pun intended).

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This response does a great job of citing credible sources and acknowledging the complexity of how music affects learning. It effectively highlights the importance of choosing the right type of music and emphasizes the role of individual preferences, which aligns well with the original claim. The insights into how different genres and tempos impact focus are thoughtful and practical. Overall, it's a well-researched and informative response with valuable takeaways.

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I agree that it depends on the type of music and the person listening to music. I appreciate that you used multiple sources from different universities to support your factcheck. I also like that you mentioned that if someone is listening to music with lyrics or fast paced it might make it harder to focus on the task at hand.

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I agree with your point in that not everyone I great at multitasking. This is something else to be considered because it really can vary for different people. The article you referenced is the same one I read and can see how this statement can be a bit misleading.

Answer 4

Personally, certain music allows me focus on my work more effectively then without music at all. According to an article from National University, there is research that shows the positives that music can bring to the learning environment. It says that scientifically, "music activated both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory". Now, it is also proven that choosing the right music is extremely beneficial and certain music can be distracting to learning. With all that being said, it can be said and proven that listening to music in a learning environment can extremely beneficial to brain function and high-pressure situations like when taking exams or writing essays.

https://www.nu.edu/blog/can-music-help-you-study-and-focus/

Comments

I agree, Listening to music while studying can be a valuable tool for improving concentration and cognitive function. Research suggests that music activates both hemispheres of the brain, enhancing memory retention and mental agility. However, selecting the right type of music is crucial, as certain genres—especially those with lyrics—can become distractions rather than aids. Ultimately, music's impact on learning varies by individual, but when chosen wisely, it can provide significant benefits in academic settings.

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I think it's great that you touched on the scientific data given by National University  that listening to music activates both the left and right side of our brains as well as offering your own personal experience!

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I like that you used your own personal experience to support your claim, along with evidence from National University. I agree that there is certain music that helps more than others and some types of music can be more distracting than beneficial.

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This fact-check is strong because it uses a personal account in addition to well informed sources and considers how personal learning styles can impact how one benefits from using background music to aid their studying.

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I agree mainstream sources can oversimplify scientific research. To address your skepticism, I actually cross-checked The Times article with a peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Psychology by Lehmann and Seufert (2017). This study confirmed the nuanced effect of music on learning, emphasizing that individual differences, particularly in working memory, significantly moderate these effects. Interestingly, their findings partly align with The Times' reporting but stress that music’s impact isn't universally positive. Your suggestion to look deeper into PubMed or Psychology Today is valuable. I'll definitely consider including more peer-reviewed literature next time for a comprehensive perspective.

Answer 5

The claim from Coppell Student Media that music can aid learning is partially supported by scientific research. While some studies suggest that listening to music—particularly upbeat instrumental or "groovy" music—can improve cognitive performance and mood, the overall effectiveness of music during studying depends on various factors. A study reported in The Times, based on research published in PLOS ONE, found that participants who listened to upbeat instrumental music completed tasks 7% faster without sacrificing accuracy and also experienced a better mood. These effects were attributed to the rhythmic qualities of the music, which seemed to enhance mental agility. However, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology indicated that the impact of background music on learning outcomes varies depending on individual working memory capacity. People with higher working memory performed better with background music, while those with lower capacity did worse. This supports the idea that while music can be helpful for some, it can be distracting for others—especially when the task at hand requires intense focus. The Coppell Student Media article responsibly acknowledges this nuance, making the claim a fair but limited interpretation of the scientific evidence.

Sources:

• The Times article on groovy music and cognitive performance

• Frontiers in Psychology study on working memory and music

• Original article from Coppell Student Media

Comments

I think you did a really good job at showing the claim from Coppell Student Media is mostly true but needs some extra details. I like how you explained that music can help some people but can hurt others depending on their memory. Maybe it would make your fact check even better if you also talked about the type of task that matters too, like, it’s easier to listen to music when doing something simple, but harder when you need to really focus for things like reading or writing.

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In this piece, I appreciated how you highlighted the impacts of individual cognitions, and the contrast between potential benefits and drawbacks. You're emphasis about the effect and importance of music being universal to connect with our community really resonated with because I believe music does definitely incorporate the connection through humans more than we know. One suggestion that I might make would e to elaborate a bit more the type of music that show through performance. That vagueness made me curious on what type of performance you meant, and how that can branch out to explain the creative works around music in general.

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Good job explaining the mixed research on how music affects learning and bringing in multiple credible sources like The Times and Frontiers in Psychology. I like how you highlighted that music’s impact depends on factors like working memory and task type. One thing I’d suggest is reflecting a little more on the original Coppell Student Media article. It’s a student publication, which means it may simplify scientific findings. The difference in level between the original article makes the detail questionable.

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When conducting a strong fact-check, it's best to find sources not presented in the original claim. Thanks!

Answer 6

I like your clear communication with the audience that the claim is only partly backed by scientific evidence. It would be very easy to frame such a statement in a way that reads as if the claim is 100% true, but the transparency is incredibly appreciated by the average curious reader. The introduction of confounding variables that may affect the data was very clear in your response and allowed me to understand both sides of the possible debate regarding background music's effect on productivity academically. Great insight!

Comments

I appreciate you stating your opinion and complementing the poster. One thing that may be helpful is factchecking with a source not provided by the author. It is hard to trust a fact check that only reads over the sources provided by the poster.

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I think this is great feedback! I think you should add some resources or articles to help further back your thoughts in the original claim. I think you could also find claims that would be false against the original claim and you could explain why the false claims are incorrect. But overall good job understanding both sides of the debate

Answer 7

Music can help some people when studying so its not completely false, but its effectiveness depends on the individual and the task they’re working on. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that people with stronger working memory were able to perform better when they studied with background music. However, those with lower working memory tended to focus better and retain more information when they studied in silence. This shows that music might be useful for some, but for others, it could be a distraction, especially when the task requires deep concentration. Also to personal factors, the type of music matters. Upbeat or instrumental music might help improve mood and speed up work on simple tasks, but it can get in the way of more complicated assignments. When studying, music without lyrics is often recommended, as lyrics can take up cognitive resources and make it harder to focus. So, while music can sometimes enhance studying, it isn’t always the best choice for everyone, and its effects vary depending on the individual and the type of task at hand.

source

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01902/full?

Comments

I like that you pointed out that it depends on the type of person and then backed this claim up with evidence from a reputable source. Pointing out the type of studying you are doing, type of person you are, and pointing out that everyones brain works different is important because it supports the accusation that this claim can't be true nor false.

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I like how in the response you explain why music might work for some people while in other people might not find it to work. You do a good job explaining why this is the case about musics impact on people while studying.

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I think you did a great job explaining that everyone is different and retains information in their own ways. For some it it easier in silence but not for others. I like how you mentioned the type of music also as I feel instrumental music is better. You made it clear it cant be true or false.

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I agree as well that it depends on the person, cause not everything works for people like others. I have mostly seen people with their headphones on and listening to music, and others with nothing, just super focused on their work.

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This statement reflects a balanced and nuanced understanding of how music impacts studying. It acknowledges that while music has the potential to help some individuals—particularly in boosting mood or productivity for simple tasks—it also highlights the importance of personal differences and task-specific needs. The caveat about music being a distraction for those who need deep concentration is critical and is a commonly overlooked aspect of the research on this topic.

In my opinion, the key takeaway is that music's effectiveness in studying depends heavily on individual preferences and the nature of the task. For example, people who thrive in noisy environments may find background music beneficial, while others who require silence for focus may be better off without it. Ultimately, the best approach is self-awareness—understanding how your brain responds to different types of music and using that insight to tailor your study environment.

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I really like the first sentence of your answer as it shows you agree with the claim, but there seems to be data that your'e going to get into that is going to explain the factors as to why it is not completely false. I also like how you made it a point to say that everyone is going to have a different experience with studying and listening to music and it depends on the person if they are able to focus with music! The source you provided, did it give you exactly what you were looking for? Or was it hard gaining research on this? This is overall a great answer to the original claim!

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You did a great job highlighting both sides of the debate and backing it up with science from Frontiers in Psychology. I liked that you didn’t make a blanket statement and instead acknowledged how music’s effectiveness depends on the task and the person. Your explanation about how lyrics can take up cognitive space was a great detail. It made me think about how often people assume music always helps, when it really depends on what you're trying to do.

Answer 8

I have found this topic interesting for years. I took a psychology class in high school and my teacher taught us about this, then after attending classes at a university I heard the claim again and wanted to look into it. according to this article from Florida National University it is in fact true. it is said that listening to the same type of music while studying, doing homework or even taking a test on the same subject can improve upon memory in the topic. I have also heard that if you listen to different genres for different subjects it help your brain categorize the things your should be remembering. the article I read says, "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." It also adds the claims that listening to music while studying improves stress, reduces test anxiety and improves test performance!

Comments

I appreciate your research into this subject. I think it would be better if you linked your source. I would also say the types of music that improve your learning. I believe that this subject is more nuanced than what your factcheck suggests.　

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I like how you referenced a class you took in high school in your response. As a reader, I get the sense that you care more about the subject to do more than just surface-level fact checking. It would be nice to have a link to the article from Florida National University in your response, just so it could be accessed easier, but otherwise great job.

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Please always include a URL hyperlink for your sources. Thanks!

Answer 9

I think certain types of music can definitely help an individual study and is beneficial to their learning. The source that you listed above, The Times, conducted an experiment in which the participants were split into four groups and each group was exposed to a different type of music. This research is a reliable source for your information since these are people's person experiences and was conducted by researchers. This helps the researchers get a better understanding of how different kinds of music affect people's focus. With the information that they received, they are able to come to a conclusion. The Times is a very respected news outlet and is reported to have great quality research and limited bias. However, there are important aspects to consider when choosing what music to listen to. According to National University, classical music can help you feel productive and motivated and it doesn't have any lyrics so you have less of chance of getting distracted by the words. “Music activates both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory,” says Dr. Masha Godkin..." When deciding what music to listen to, you should consider the tempo of the music, sound control, and making sure it's something you like. The National University has received awards and recognition by the WASC and WSCUC for its high quality of education. 

Source: https://www.nu.edu/blog/can-music-help-you-study-and-focus/

Comments

I think you did a great job in finding scientific evidence, especially with the quote from Dr.Godkin. One thing that you could have talked about to strengthen your fact check by talking about how controlled the experiment from The Times if they mentioned it at all. Also because you talked about the lyrics, maybe you could compare different genres and how that affects studying with music.

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Thank you for your comment and I agree a decent amount with what you're saying. Although for me personally I can't study with music very well. It just ends up distracting me, but I may have to try classical music.

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You're correct that the type of music is significant to listen to when you're studying, and the classical type would be a better option because it's lyricless. It's also thoughtful that the study took into account what kinds of music affect concentration. Nevertheless, music is not universal, another person can focus better in silence. Would you think that quick or song-like music will ever help with some kinds of studying?

Answer 10

The belief that music helps learning is popular, but scientific research offers a more nuanced perspective. While personal accounts and some studies suggest benefits, the effectiveness of music during study depends on several factors. A study in PLOS One found that upbeat instrumental "work flow" music improved mood and task speed by 7% without losing accuracy. This aligns with the arousal-mood theory, where upbeat music can increase positive feelings and alertness. However, the impact of music tempo isn't always positive. Research in Frontiers in Psychology highlights that individual differences, like working memory capacity plays a crucial role. Students with higher capacity showed better comprehension with background music, while those with lower capacity performed better in silence. Personality traits and learning styles also influence how music affects learning. The type of task is another important factor. Background music may help with low-demand tasks but can worsen more complex ones requiring focus. Lyrics in music generally impede verbal tasks , while instrumental music has a less clear impact. Classical, ambient, and nature sounds are often recommended for focus. 

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0316047

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5671572/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Comments

I really liked how you acknowledged individual differences, especially working memory and personality, which often get glossed over. That nuance is important. One suggestion: it might be worth pushing further into the type of music used — you mention instrumental and ambient, but there's growing research on how even within those categories, things like tempo, key, or even familiarity with the song can make a big difference. For example, some studies suggest that familiar music can actually be more distracting because of emotional associations. That could deepen your point about how “not all instrumental music is created equal.”

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I liked that you brought up and connected this to the arousal-mood theory. I think it's important that you pointed out how different learning and personality styles will be affected by music differently, as well as how music could benefit certain tasks while distract others.

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I really appreciated the stance you took on this topic of "cant be true or false (opinion)". I like how you researched an actual study that helps explain the phenomena. I think this is a subjective claim as music can work for some people and be so helpful and not for others potentially being distracting. Good job!

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This is a strong claim. It is crucial to include that everyone is different, regarding this specific topic. I like how you included specific aspects of music that impact the brain and behavior, such as tempo and different genres.

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I love the way you worded this, the sources you selected are very credible as well and provide good evidence that it is ambiguous and the type of music determines cognitive improvement. I believe you could add some more evidence that states that instrumental music is very diverse and is not necessarily always relaxing and ambient.

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Great job showing both sides and aspects to this claim. You mentioned that there is a overall belief but there is also scientific research that may show a different perspective and aspect. I, for example know that I study better while listening to music, while I know some others need complete silence. You also listed the different types of music and which type is best for each type of activity. Overall, great job and I enjoyed reading your response.