Listening to Music while studying; for memory loss or a memory loss disorder
There are numerous benefits of listening to music. It can lift your mood, and some even consider music to have a calming effect on your mind.
But according to some researchers, listening to music can help you to improve your memory as well.
A study conducted at Johns Hopkins University revealed that playing and listening to music can improve your cognitive performance. The researchers studied the brain waves in several jazz musicians using an fMRI machine while they performed their music.
The research showed that the brain does a lot of computing when you play or even listen to music which can be stimulating and prevent the deterioration of memory with age.
In this post, we will explore whether music helps retain more knowledge while you study.
Many students swear that their retention is better when they learn while listening to some music. Let’s find out whether this notion has any scientific backing or not.
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Take the QuizHow can music help you during your studies?
If you think that blasting a particular song or a piece of music will help you remember everything you read, then you are sadly mistaken.
While music can help you in several ways, you won’t in all likelihood gain a photographic memory just by listening to a song or two.
So, is there any benefit in listening to music while you study? Well, yes, there is, and we are going to find out how.
Music motivates
One of the best qualities of music is it can motivate you to tackle even the most difficult tasks. If you have loads of homework to do in a short period, and the sheer volume makes you want to quit, then music can motivate you to get started.
According to a study published in 2019, listening to music activates certain pleasure pathways in our brains. These are the same pleasure pathways that get activated when you do something that you love.
One of the best ways to motivate yourself to start an arduous task can be listening to music. By stimulating the pleasure pathways of the brain, music helps you to get started.
You don’t even have to listen to your favorite song while you study; you can just listen to it during the break to get yourself back on track.
Music improves focus
According to a famous study conducted at Stanford University, classical music can help you take in and interpret new information.
According to the researchers, listening to classical music can help your brain to train so that it can pay better attention to events while you study.
Listening to music can help, especially if you struggle to make sense of any new information that you might be trying to process. If what you are trying to learn is making no sense, listen to a little music, and it might just start making a lot more sense.
The same study also found that listening to music can improve your problem-solving ability and critical thinking.
Music can improve your memory
According to a study, listening to a piece of background music can improve the cognitive function of older adults.
The study also found that listening to background music markedly enhanced the participants’ performance in memory-related tasks.
It has been long argued that music helps you in a similar way that exercise helps your body.
What music is the best for studying?
Listening to music does not necessarily help if you listen to the wrong kind of music. If you want to or prefer studying music, keep the following tips in mind.
Choose music without lyrics
Listening to a popular tune with lyrics is more likely to distract you than help you focus. So, if you are listening to music, ensure that it is without any vocals.
Pick instrumental music
The best music for studying is the one which is not too fast or too slow. Classical music played on instruments like the piano or strings works the best.
If you want to venture outside classical music, pick soft electronic or space music. Even ambient noises might help some people to focus better.
Keep the volume low
You don’t want the music to be put on a high volume if you want to study. If the piece is too loud, it will inevitably end up distracting you rather than helping you out.
Avoid songs you love or hate
It is best to pick songs that you don’t have a strong opinion about while studying. If you choose a piece of music that you love (or hate), it might end up distracting you, and the whole effort will become futile.
Avoid any music that’s surprising or experimental.
Dramatic and experimental music tends to be distracting while you study. If the music abruptly changes tempo or lacks a fixed rhythm, it will distract and make it more difficult to concentrate.
If you are a fan of ambient noises, try out nature sounds. Waterfalls, thunder, or rainfall are some of the most popular types of background music that most students prefer.
Binaural beats
Although there is not an extensive body of evidence favoring binaural beats to improve concentration, anecdotal evidence and minor studies have upheld the notion.
Binaural beats produce an illusion in your ears so that it feels that you are listening to two different beats, one in each ear.
Although the sounds are very similar, they might have slightly different frequencies. Some of the benefits of listening to binaural beats include:
- Reduction in anxiety
- Helping to fall asleep
- Improving attention
How music can help with memory loss disorders
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests music can help with memory disorders like mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other intellectual and memory impairments.
In one study, people with mild cognitive impairment who took part in a singing program showed significant improvements in their ability to remember words and perform other intellectual tasks.
Other research has found that music therapy can help to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and promote social interaction in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
While more studies are needed to confirm the full extent of music’s benefits for people with memory disorders, the available evidence suggests that music can be an effective tool for helping to improve memory and cognition.
How Prime MD Plus can help
Prime MD Plus is a medical clinic that offers services for memory loss. The practice is run by a board-certified geriatrician.
Patients at Prime MD Plus can expect to receive a comprehensive evaluation that includes a review of medical history, physical examination, and cognitive testing.
Depending on the results of the evaluation, additional testing may be recommended, such as blood tests or brain imaging.
Prime MD Plus also offers counseling and support for patients and families dealing with memory loss.
The goal of Prime MD Plus is to help patients identify the cause of their memory problems and develop a plan to improve their symptoms.
Illegal drugs, brain infections, and normal aging are just some of the many possible causes of memory loss that our clinic will evaluate for.
By working with a board-certified geriatrician, patients can get the help they need to improve their memory and quality of life.
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Learn MoreConclusion
Music can help you improve your focus and can motivate you. However, you need to pick the right kind of music to get the most benefit.
Listening to music while studying is not everyone’s cup of tea either. If you find that music is distracting you, it is better not to overthink the benefits and move on to a different strategy.
Listening to music can help with memory impairment, and mental health disorders, and improve your ability to perform everyday tasks. If you are having issues with impaired memory see a specialist to get help.
Consult a specialized doctor for any kind of memory issues with Prime MD Plus, where you can connect with a board-certified geriatrician in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to help diagnose and manage any memory problems you may have.
Check out primemdplus.com for more information.