If you have difficulty concentrating on the task, memory loss, or constant distractions, useful music can solve the problem. We will tell you which songs scientists recommend increasing work and study productivity.
Focus, improve memory and performance, raise your spirits, and even accelerate your cognitive abilities - the right royalty free music can do such things.
Scientists in 1972 discovered and with the help of experiments confirmed that while listening to music it is easier and faster to do monotonous work, which does not require active work of thought. Later, researchers from around the world have proven that the right rhythms can also be found for intellectual activity, which can improve human abilities.
classical music
Let's start with the most popular research of the 90s, the results of which initiated the search for "intellectual" music. We are talking about scientists from the University of California at Irvine: in the course of the experiment, they included classical works by Mozart, and then offered to pass texts on spatial thinking. It turned out that the Austrian composer's work helps to solve complex problems faster with reducing the number of errors.
However, the effect does not last long - only 10-15 minutes. British psychologist Victoria Williamson in her book "You Are the Music: How Music Reveals What it Means to be Human" emphasizes that the classic is an opportunity to cheer up, to activate the hidden abilities of the brain, to enter the working rhythm. Victoria recommends listening to the classic music before or at the beginning of the working day. By the way, the psychologist's conclusions were later confirmed experimentally.
That's interesting.
Harry Witchell in his book "You are what You Hear: How Music and Territory Make Us Who We are" refers to the research of Canadian psychologists. They found that not only the music composition but also its tempo, manner, affect performance, memory, and concentration. Therefore, if you are facing serious mental stress, it is better to choose fast and major compositions.
Electronic music
One of the Journal of Consumer Research studies noted the positive effect of calm and unobtrusive compositions in the genre of Ambient or Chillout. They contained no words, so they did not force the listener to concentrate on the content.
Music for concentration sets a certain rhythm and keeps performance at a high level, not allowing laziness or distraction.
Electronic compositions will be useful for office workers, students, and people who have to spend a lot of time at the computer.
Soundtracks to games
The most famous composers and studios work on the creation of musical compositions for the game industry. The main task of the soundtrack is to maintain the level of concentration, to stimulate thinking processes. Rhythm and sound can help the player to think globally, make decisions quickly and remember useful information.
The positive effect from soundtracks to role-playing and strategic games is especially noticeable. In addition, if the melodies are familiar, the effect from listening to them increases. Thus, users of the popular platform Reddit have chosen the most "successful" for mental work - the soundtrack to the urban simulator SimCity: here and the sounds of nature, and unobtrusive "white noise" and pleasant guitar riffs.
That's interesting.
In July 2020, the Applied Cognitive Psychology journal published a study in which scientists provided data on an experiment involving 30 people: half of them were extroverts, and the others were introverts. It turned out that extroverts showed better results in cognitive tests if they worked while listening to music. On the contrary, the introverts demonstrated maximum performance and concentration in the absence of musical accompaniment.
Sounds of Nature
In 2015, scientists from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute provided interesting data regarding the impact of sounds of nature on the human brain. It turned out that such "music" muffles the noise around it well - for example, the speech of colleagues or construction work of neighbors from above enhances cognitive functions, maintains performance and concentration levels.
A good effect is given by the combination of instrumental compositions with birds singing, the noise of rain or waterfall, the sounds of surf or a mountain stream. By the way, if you have monotonous and hard work to do, it is better to turn on the crackling of firewood in the fireplace.
That's interesting.
It has been proven that music for the work of the brain can be of maximum benefit if a person is a master of his craft. It does not matter if he works with his hands or head - if the work is familiar to him, then any music will act as a stimulant of performance and concentration. Therefore, sometimes it is enough to turn on your favorite playlist - and after a few minutes, you will feel the "magic" effect of rhythms and sounds.
How to achieve harmony in the workplace?
Numerous studies confirm that the emotional state, performance, concentration, and cognitive functions depend directly on the "sound" of the environment. "Dead" noise, absolute silence work as demotivators, and the right music as a source of strength and energy.
Don't be afraid of experiments: among users of the Internet resource Habr, more than 50% said that they prefer to work under rock music, and about 35% - under metal and heavy rock.
It is best to choose dynamic, rhythmic compositions and medium volume: scientists believe that too quiet melodies will make you sleepy and inhibit brain activity, while loud melodies, on the contrary, will excite the nervous system, which will have a negative impact on the ability to concentrate and solve intellectual problems.
Finally, pay attention to the sound quality - if speakers "rattle" and headphones "lose" the bass and do not give the desired depth of sound, it is unlikely to be able to focus on the work. Rather, the effect will be the opposite: irritation will accumulate, the headache will appear, nervous tension will increase. It will not be possible to solve something and create in such conditions. Care for your gadgets and accessories to feel good:)
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