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

This claim can be true or false, the studies may be right but the fact that it can help various people isn't necessarily true. I found an article by National University that guided a study to prove that music activated both halfs of your brain so that it is allowed to contain and process more information. It talks about a certain Mozart-Effect "The first theoretical perspective explains why background music could positively influence learning and cognitive abilities. Probably the most well-known approach in this field is the so-called Mozart effect (Rauscher et al., 1993)" and the study was between a group who listened to background music while reading a text and those who did not listen music while reading a text. Turns out those who listened to music performed better after listening. But other studies do analyze the downside of this effect, so really its a 50/50, it can help you out in certain circumstances or with certain material, and it is said that it can especially help those with disabilities. But background music has proven to not. help out some. 

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

Answer 2

Based on my research, I have found that this is true to an extent. There are both pros and cons to listening to music while studying, and it really depends on the task at hand. On one hand, music provides lots of benefits, including improved mood, increased motivation, better concentration, and improved memory and brain stimulation, all of which are important for studying. There have been several studies done proving these benefits. 

"In a 2013 studyTrusted Source, 60 female volunteers carried out a psychological stress test while listening to relaxing music, sounds of rippling water, or no particular sound. Results suggested that listening to relaxing music makes a physical difference to the way people respond psychologically and physically — in terms of hormone response — under stress. However, the picture is complex, and more studies are needed."

Because studying can be a very stressful activity, playing some music can help people feel more relaxed and work more effectively. Additionally, another found that classical music can help your brain absorb and interpret new information easily. "The researchers found evidence to suggest that music can engage your brain in such a way that it trains it to pay better attention to events and make predictions about what might happen."

https://www.healthline.com/health/does-music-help-you-study#negative-effects 

According to research done by Standford University, music engages the areas of the brain responsible for paying attention. In their research, they used an fMRI in order to show which parts of the brain are working during a given activity. Using this machine, they found out that musical techniques used by composers 200 years ago help the brain organize incoming information. 

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2007/07/music-moves-brain-to-pay-attention-stanford-study-finds.html 

On the other hand, listening to music doesn't help everyone and can be a distraction when doing certain tasks. For example, if a student is trying to write a paper or trying to remember certain events, listening to loud music or music with lyrics can make these assignments difficult and do more harm than good. 

https://www.healthline.com/health/does-music-help-you-study#negative-effects

Overall, music has both positive and negative effects when it comes to using it while studying. It is important that people decide when to use it so that it is helpful for their studying, and when to press pause when it becomes a distraction. 

Answer 3

​The claim that “Studying with song: how music can make you learn better” is backed by credible articles  though the effectiveness varies based on your  preferences and what music is used for studying. Dr. Masha Godkin from National University states, “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's important to know that music's impact on studying isn't always positive. Healthline points out that even though many people find music helps them concentrate, some  may find it distracting . A study written  by Medical News Today states that “music may improve focus and concentration for some people when studying, but for others, it may be distracting and have a negative impact on learning”. This is a challenging claim to fact check as most major research points to a variation in how much it helps studying based on the person. While some are able to better memorize and learn some just get distracted and learn less. The claim is not false yet can't be labeled as true for everyone. 

 How Music Can Help You Study | UMGC

Can Music Help You Study and Focus? | National University

Can music improve focus and concentration when studying? | Medical News Today

Music and Studying: Do They Go Together? - Healthline

Answer 4

The claim is that music can help you study and learn better. First source mentioned is a Stanford article, which probably focuses on the line "Music engages the brain over a period of time, he said, and the process of listening to music could be a way that the brain sharpens its ability to anticipate events and sustain attention.".

This article mentioned it didn't work for everyone so claim is exaggerated because music does not help everyone, so the initial article is only focusing on evidence that proves their argument.

Claim seems opinionated as its the authors preference when it comes to studying and focusing. Although, that being said, music does personally help me focus when studying.

Answer 5

This claim is neither true or false. Music does has an influence on individuals, however it may not have positive effects for everyone. For many, music is an outlet that allows for a stress-free experience, which people would say is ideal for studying. Based off an article published by Healthline, there have been studies that music does have a positive effect on the brain and releases stress, however this is not the case for everyone. There are many individuals who are able to study while music plays, through increased attention and uplifted mood. However, people with "low working memory capacity" may have trouble focusing while music plays during studying, as it could be distracting. This claim can't be answered with a straight yes or a no, it depends on the person and their needs.

https://www.healthline.com/health/does-music-help-you-study#benefits-of-music-for-studying 

Answer 6

I agree with the claim that studying with music can help you learn, but it is not a garuntee that it will work for everyone. A Healthline article titled “Music and Studying: It’s Complicated” brings up some great facts about how music can help you relax, it can help you become more motivated at your task, but it also says that music can distract you from what you want to get done. This leaves the facts in an interesting scenario of a song can have an effect on someone in a certain way and have the complete opposite effect on another person. That is because all humans do not think and intake music and sounds the same way, so while listening to music might be able to help me study for my test, it might only distract someone else from learning the same material.  

https://www.healthline.com/health/does-music-help-you-study#benefits-of-music-for-studying  

Answer 7

“Studying with song: How music can help you learn” :

The claim “Studying with song: How music can help you learn” – Music can have a different effect or appeal on everyone, so music may overstimulate and stress out some people while trying to study, while some people’s concentration and focus are improved with music. According to Healthline.com, it also sheds light on how it is split, and that some people really enjoy studying/learning with music playing, while others may prefer it completely silent. Either way, those that music impacts positively while studying often experience the following benefits of doing so: improved mood, increased motivation, boosted concentration, and improved memory and increased brain stimulation. Healthline.com also includes statistics recorded from studies done in the past that provide the benefits I explained above, and help support the claim that music aids learning. 

https://www.healthline.com/health/does-music-help-you-study 

Answer 8

The claim that music can aid learning is supported partially by science, depending on the parameters like the type of music, the nature of the task, and personal differences. A study published in PLOS ONE and reported by The Times proved that upbeat instrumental or "groovy" music enhanced cognitive function and mood, with test participants completing tasks 7% more quickly and reporting improved mental states. Scientists attribute this to musical rhythms enhancing mood and mental flexibility. However, a study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that the effect of background music on learning is moderated by working memory capacity—is a function of individual capacity, whereby those with greater capacity were enhanced by music and those with poorer capacity learned more in silence. This would mean that while music may be useful in some learning contexts, it is not always useful and must be considered in context.

Answer 9

According to https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/keep-your-brain-young-with-music,

Listening to music can stimulate the brain in unique ways, offering a mental workout similar to physical exercise. It has been shown to reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, mood, mental alertness, and memory. Music engages the brain by processing complex patterns, as it's built on mathematical and structural relationships. Research, such as studies with jazz musicians and rappers, reveals that music activates several brain areas involved in creativity and problem-solving. Additionally, learning an instrument can enhance attention and memory. While different people respond to music in various ways, experimenting with new genres or familiar tunes can boost creativity and recall. Overall, music can be a useful tool to aid concentration and cognitive function when studying, as long as you choose the right kind for your needs.

Answer 10

After researching , I found a lot of articles supporting the claim that music can help with studying. However, the article used for the claim does not provide evidence or resources. The writer uses personal experience instead of scientific evidence. This article was published in a high school newspaper but I do not think it is the right article to support this claim. To find further evidence to support this claim, I looked at two articles mainly from Florida National University and Stanford Medicine. The article from Florida National University uses scientific evidence to show how music helps ease stress and anxiety which can be beneficial for studying especially if the student is really stressed about the subject. The article also used a study from UC Davis which links music with memory and emotion saying that, "This study reveals that music, memory, and emotions and strongly linked. This evidence supports the theory that studying while listening to music is a very beneficial practice." The article from Stanford was also used as a reference in the previous article. The Stanford article focuses on the effects of classical music on studying. Along with conducting a study, this article also includes the insight of Johnathan Berger, a professor of music. The conclusion of this study found that, "music engages the areas of the brain involved with paying attention." After reading these articles, I found that the claim is true. However, the claim also uses an article that is very general and can be misleading. There are other factors such as the type of music and also every person is different. Some may find music beneficial and others may actually find it distracting. 

https://www.fnu.edu/benefits-studying-music/ 

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2007/07/music-moves-brain-to-pay-attention-stanford-study-finds.html