The kettle is whistling, yet another home delivery truck is trundling up the neighbour’s driveway, the dog is scratching at the back door and there’s a concrete saw going at the building site down the road – is it any wonder we can’t concentrate?
Full house: Faced with all the distractions of home, music can help some people focus, says Dr Kirk Olsen.
Studying (and working) from home can be filled with noisy distractions; does it help to drown them out with music?
Macquarie University postdoctoral researcher in the School of Psychological Sciences Dr Kirk Olsen says that listening to music while studying or trying to focus on work can be helpful for some people, in certain situations.
“For example, if you are studying in a distracting environment such as a busy coffee shop, listening to quiet music through headphones can mask those sources of distraction and replace it with a predictable and enjoyable source of stimulation,” Olsen says.
Music can even stimulate the imagination, so can act as a source of inspiration for tasks that involve creative thought.
Music can also help to calm students who are finding the material difficult or stressful, he adds.
“Music can help to make a tedious task more enjoyable, and this can help motivate students to continue studying for longer periods of time,” he says.
“Music can even stimulate the imagination, so can act as a source of inspiration for tasks that involve creative thought.”
Can classical music make you smarter?
The idea that listening to classical music can enhance intelligence has been around for some time, but Olsen says there’s very little evidence to support it.
String theory: Classical music does not live up to its so-called 'Mozart effect', says Dr Olsen.
The ‘Mozart effect’ is a well-known phenomenon that emerged following a 1993 study which showed that of the 36 participants, those who listened to Mozart performed better on a mental task than those who sat in silence.
“Follow-up research has largely discounted the hypothesis that listening to classical music puts the brain in a sophisticated operating mode,” says Olsen.
He says it’s likely that listening to music may be linked with higher performance because music is arousing and can put people in a better mood.
“People generally work better if they are feeling awake and happy, rather than tired, grumpy or bored.”
It doesn’t have to be Mozart - listening to any music that you enjoy can improve your mood, and help you work more effectively, he says.
What kind of music distracts us from study?
Olsen says there is a fine line between the benefits of music for studying - and the problem of music becoming a source of distraction.
Pumped: Fast and loud music has a greater chance of pulling your focus away from the task at hand, says Dr Olsen.
“For example, music that contains lyrics is often distracting because the verbal information expressed through lyrics can interfere with, or become confused with, any verbal information you are trying to read, comprehend, or memorise for an exam,” he says.
It’s not just lyrics that can divert you from your task, he adds.
Musicians find it hard to ignore music because they are so used to listening attentively and deeply to it.
“If the music is fast and loud, or contains a lot of changes in dynamics, it has a greater chance of capturing your attention, pulling your focus away from what you’re trying to concentrate on, and towards the specific qualities of the music.”
He says that typically, students who try to study while playing music with lyrics, or fast and loud music, will more likely move their focus back and forth between the music and their academic material, slowing down their progress and study effectiveness.
Personality types and your own musical skill play a role
“For some individuals, and most commonly musicians, the presence of music is always distracting,” says Olsen.
“Musicians find it hard to ignore music because they are so used to listening attentively and deeply to it.”
There’s also some links between your personality type and the impact that background music will have on you, he adds.
“One study showed that extroverted people can perform well on a task in the presence of complex or faster paced music, whereas introverted people perform better with slower paced music, or no music.”
How to use music to help you study
Olsen lists these suggestions:
- Choose music with no lyrics and minimal amounts of abrupt and noticeable changes. “Distinct changes in music will capture your attention and become a source of distraction.”
- Keep the volume low so music is in the background. “People experience background music in a similar way to soft lighting – it can be relaxing and help you focus on your primary task without significant distraction.”
- Choose music that suits your personality – and what you’re working on
“Overall, most people are remarkably capable of listening to music while engaging in other activities such as studying, as long as they take into consideration their personality and musical background, the nature of the music, and the type of studying they are doing.”
How to build a high-focus environment – with or without music
Olsen says that music is just one component to address when establishing a low-distraction study zone.
Tune tips: Choose music without lyrics and keep the volume low are among Dr Olsen's suggestions for using music to help you study.
“Mobile phones and the lure of social media are the ultimate distractors,” he says. “Plenty of research details the psychological costs of task-switching between your main task, such as studying, and distractions such as a quick check of TikTok or your Instagram feed.”
Managing this is key for successful learning and retention of information, he says – noting that one study showed that the more text messages you send during a study period, the worse your memory is for the study material.
“Even the number of windows you have open on your computer is a predictor of how focussed you’re likely to be on your primary task,” he says.
The best study environment is one that removes as many potential auditory and visual distractions as possible, whether that’s mobile phones and televisions, pets or even noisy housemates.
Add good lighting and ventilation, well-organised study plans that include rest breaks and (perhaps) music to suit the occasion – and you just may find that high-focus sweet spot.
Dr Kirk Olsen is a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Pyschological Sciences
