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 is a true statement. The way I can confirm this is I started by looking how music helps studying. This came up with a lot of results but I then proceeded by condensing this and looked how it helps you learn. This came up with a lot of positives by studies done by many universities. The first College is the University of Maryland. In their study they figured out how this helped you and they found out that it can help blocks out many distractions, it also can improve concentration, maintains your attention during studying.

https://www.umgc.edu/blog/how-music-can-help-you-study#:~:text=%E2%80%9CStudying%20can%20be%20stressful%2C%20and,maintain%20attention%20during%20study%20sessions.%E2%80%9D

The next college I found was Florida National University. They found that music helps activate both sides of the brain, and maximizes learning and improve memory. It's also good to reduce stress.

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

Answer 2

This claim is exaggerated. The first primary source used, The Times, is a research study that states that people who listened to "workflow music" completed the task presented 7% faster without compromising accuracy. This fact was true, however, the National Library of Medicine, a second primary source, counteracts those findings, stating that "...the higher the learners' working memory capacity, the better they learned with background music." This quote enlightens the reader to the fact that a person's benefits from background music are individual, and that not everyone may have the same results. 

Answer 3

While the source linked in this study mostly describes a personal experience supported with general research done on music’s ability to improve memory, it does not provide enough evidence to conclude that listening to music while studying will improve memorization of content. There are many factors which play into whether music is helpful or harmful to learning, such as frequency, volume, and genre, among others, and the article provided does little to address these different factors and the research done on them. Rather, it makes a broad claim that listening to music will aid studying, as music engages areas of the brain responsible for attention and prediction, helping absorb and retain information, and that it triggers the release of dopamine, motivating listeners to keep going, which may not be entirely true as results vary greatly among individuals.

https://coppellstudentmedia.com/131890/lifestyle/studying-with-song-how-music-can-help-you-learn/

One study conducted by the Department of Learning and Instruction at Ulm University in Germany consisted of 81 college students who were placed into groups that listened to music and did not listen to music while learning a visual text. The group that did listen to music listened to two different pop songs, while the ones that did not studied in silence, and the outcomes were tested through recall and comprehension of the material. The results of this study showed that while listening to music had little effect on recall of information, those with background music and a higher level of memory capability had better comprehension of material. This does support the claim that background music may help with studying among individuals, but as it is limited to pop music, it cannot be generalized to all background music.

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

Thus, more research should be done on the effects of background music on studying involving different factors, as this article does not provide enough evidence to conclude that background music is helpful for studying.

Answer 4

This claim appears to be accurate. The article highlights how instrumental or non-lyrical music can enhance focus, act as a barrier to distraction, and boost mood by releasing dopamine. The article also mentions that music can serve as a memorization tool. These claims are supported by research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. In another source by the University of Maryland Global Campus, they also emphasize the benefits of instrumental and ambient music in blocking distractions. It also states how music can improve concentration and maintain attention during study sessions. Both sources support the claim and agree that music can be a valuable tool when studying.

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

Answer 5

The claim that music can augment one's studying or learning capacity is misleading and is only sometimes true at best; studies have repeatedly shown that the presence of music is highly subjective in its capacity for improved study skills and varies widely from person to person. Myriad differences personal strengths, habits, tastes, and cognitive ability can all affect how background music influences information processing and retention. Many studies, like this one from Frontiers in Psychology (Lehman, et al. 2017), highlight the conflicting accounts of music's role in cognitive function, like the positive and beneficial "Mozart Effect" or "arousal-mood-hypothesis", as well as the negative and hindering "seductive detail effect". Additionally, Texas A&M's College of Arts & Sciences cites cognitive psychologist Bryan Anderson as saying, "we do a better job of recalling information in the same conditions in which we learn the material", though noting that most testing environments discourage the use of auxiliary technology necessary to replicate those same music-backed study environments. He also states that listening to music, however subconscious, constitutes a second activity in addition to learning, effectively becoming multitasking. Multitasking has been recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) as detrimental to productivity and concentration on all tasks occurring simultaneously. From this it can be drawn that outside of testing environments, listening to music while learning could be beneficial for some individuals, though less common than those it hinders.

Answer 6

According to Dr. Masha Godkin, a professor in the Department of Marriage and Family Sciences at National University, "Music activates both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory." It has also been found that music can have an effect on moods, blood pressure, and heart rate. It is recommended that to study/focus you should choose music that keeps you awake but doesn't make you want to start tapping to the beat. According to a study done by the Stanford School of Medicine, "music moves the brain to pay attention." They also mention that music can help engage the brain areas associated with paying attention and even updating memory. Another study from UC Davis reveals that "music, memory, and emotions are strongly linked." This supports the theory that listening to music while studying can be helpful. This is not going to be true for every individual as some need a quiet space to focus and it is only confirmed with certain forms of music.

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

https://www.nu.edu/blog/can-music-help-you-study-and-focus/#:~:text=“Music%20activates%20both%20the%20left,Family%20Sciences%20at%20National%20University.

Answer 7

The claim that music can aid learning, as discussed in the Coppell Student Media article and backed by research from The Times, is largely accurate but needs important context to be fully understood. A study published March 5, 2025, in The Times found that participants who listened to "groovy" instrumental music completed cognitive tasks "about 7% faster" without sacrificing accuracy, supporting the idea that certain types of music can "boost brainpower as well as mood" by enhancing mental processing through improved emotional states. Although, the fact-check correctly notes that music's effect varies significantly depending on the nature of the task and the individual’s working memory capacity, as supported by additional research published in Frontiers in Psychology. In fact, "individuals with higher working memory capacity showed improved comprehension when studying with background music," while "those with lower capacity performed better without it," showing that music can be either a help or a hindrance based on the learner. To add to this information, The journalist behind the Times article, Rhys Blakely, has strong credibility, having worked at The Times for over 21 years in roles such as Washington Bureau Chief and Science Correspondent, with a BA from Oxford and a Master's in Journalism from Goldsmiths (LinkedIn: source). This background enhances the credibility of the reporting, though it’s worth noting that the study was published in PLOS One, a respected but less selective journal, meaning the findings are trustworthy but could be even stronger if confirmed by stricter academic outlets. Because of this, I would describe the fact-check verdict as "mostly accurate, with important nuances that should be emphasized more clearly."

Answer 8

I totally agree with you about the argument about listening to music when doing homework. It helps a lot of students to focus. and be able to get their work done because listening to something that makes them relax and focus can help someone finish a task quick.

Answer 9

While the Coppell Student Media article claims that music can aid learning, this is only partially backed by scientific research. The effectiveness of music during study sessions really depends on several factors. For instance, an article from IndiaTimes highlights a study showing that listening to upbeat instrumental or “groovy” music can enhance cognitive performance and mood—participants completed tasks 7% faster without losing accuracy, thanks to the rhythmic qualities of the music.

However, this doesn’t mean music always helps with learning. Other research, including studies published in Frontiers in Psychology, shows that background music can either help or hurt depending on the task and the person. If the work is simple and repetitive, music might help. But for assignments that require deep concentration, it can be distracting. In fact, individuals with lower working memory capacity often do better without music, while those with higher capacity may benefit from it.

So, while music can be a helpful tool in some cases, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution.

https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/science-and-future/listening-to-groovy-music-during-an-activity-boosts-brain-performance-study-571579.html

Answer 10

Stop and Investigate the Source - Coppell Student Media is a high school publication from Coppell High School in Texas. While it provides a platform for student journalism, it is not a peer-reviewed or professional scientific outlet. Therefore, while the article may reference scientific studies, it's essential to consult the original research for accurate interpretation. 

Find Better Coverage - The article references a study published in The Times suggesting that "groovy" music can enhance cognitive performance and mood. Upon investigation, the original study was published in PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed journal. The study found that participants who listened to upbeat instrumental music completed tasks 7% faster without compromising accuracy and reported improved mood. The researchers attributed these benefits to the rhythmic qualities of the music, enhancing both mood and mental agility. Additionally, research published in Frontiers in Psychology indicates that the impact of background music on learning is influenced by individual differences and the nature of the task. Specifically, individuals with higher working memory capacity showed improved comprehension when studying with background music, whereas those with lower capacity performed better without it.