2023-07-14 16:05:38
The CNBC website wrote that music can not only provide entertainment, but doing things while listening to music can also help people concentrate more, even for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (Unsplash)
Text/Chen Juncun
In daily life, people sometimes need to concentrate on certain things, such as reading. But often you may not be able to concentrate at the moment, so you will achieve this goal by listening to music and other methods.
Experts from Harvard University in the United States suggest that people listening to music they are familiar with can help people improve their attention and focus on the immediate matters.
Srini Pillay, a psychiatrist and brain researcher at Harvard University, wrote on the CNBC website that music can not only provide entertainment, but also help people concentrate more while listening to music, even if they suffer from attention deficit disorder. The same goes for people with hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Which music is better to listen to?
But there are so many kinds of music, and there are thousands of people, how do you know which kind of music is most suitable for you? Studies have found that there is no universal principle when it comes to music improving brain power, it all depends on personal preference and the situation you face.
A musician and neuroscientist, Pilay says he has found that familiar music (or songs) that people love and know best have the greatest effect on improving attention.
A study published in 2018 showed that familiar music can activate many areas of the brain responsible for movement, so the effect of improving attention is significant.
“It means I can sing along and feel a learned rhythm in my body. Because I’ve heard the song, I have the fun of anticipating what’s coming next,” Pilay said.
Many studies have shown that the pleasure of listening to music will show an inverted U-shaped curve that first rises and then falls. The fun increases at first, and once your brain gets used to the music, it decreases. (Unsplash)
“When I need to concentrate, familiar music also helps release stress and connect with the emotions I need to focus on,” he says.
He mentioned that many studies have shown that the pleasure of listening to music will show an inverted U-shaped curve that first rises and then falls. The fun increases at first, and once your brain gets used to the music, it decreases.
Another study pointed out that the type of music that has the most positive impact on learning is soft, fast songs, such as “I’m Yours” by American singer-songwriter Mraz (Jason Mraz).
Loud fast songs, soft slow songs, and noisy slow songs tend to hinder learning. And music played by instruments is less distracting than songs with lyrics.
How does music affect the brain?
Music affects the brain’s ability to focus in a number of ways, Pilay said. One mechanism involves reducing cortisol (aka the stress hormone) and stress, which in turn allows the brain’s attention centers to function uninterrupted.
In the brain, attention centers are directly connected to areas that process emotion, so comparing music to mood swings may hinder your focus.
On the other hand, when you suppress your feelings, negative emotions linger in the brain and you lose the ability to focus. So if music helps you connect with your emotions, it can also help you think more clearly. ◇
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