The Power of Studying with Music

Music is a unique phenomenon in that it can boost your mood, bring you motivation, or even calm you down. The different tempos can give you varied emotions and outcomes; you just have to know how to utilize them for your benefit. When studying, it can be hard to stay focused, so here are some ways that music can help improve your studying experience.

1. Improved memory retention

Listening to music stimulates parts of the brain linked to emotion, speech, memory, and logic. According to two recent studies conducted in Japan and the United States, music not only helps us create new memories but also helps us retrieve old ones. This can be especially helpful when revising!

2. Boosted concentration

By stimulating the brain's attention centre, listening to music while working or studying might help concentration. Additionally, music can improve concentration by lowering stress and promoting relaxation. You're more likely to concentrate on the current task if you're at ease, which leads us to our next point.

3. Reduction of stress

You can feel more upbeat and positive about life when you listen to upbeat music. A softer beat can calm your thoughts and ease your tense muscles, relieving you of the day's tension and leaving you feeling comforted. Music has a calming and stress-relieving impact. If exams are right around the corner and your time is precious, music can help you keep your head on your shoulders and not lose sight of the end goal.

4. Increases brain activity

Lastly, Harvard Medicine Magazine states that “Music also lights up nearly all of the brain — including the hippocampus and amygdala, which activate emotional responses to music through memory.” The more active our brain is, the more effective our studying will be. This provides motivation as you can feel yourself actively retaining the information and feeling more confident for the future!

However, it is important to be aware of what type of music you are listening to when you study. For example, hard rock may not be the best choice when attempting to read an excerpt. Some types of music can have adverse impacts, but it all depends on the material you want to learn and its atmosphere. As long as you stay mindful and alert, nothing can go wrong!