It depends on the person. Some people may find that listening to music while studying helps them focus, while others may find that it distracts them.
Sitting in a room by yourself and reading a dusty old textbook is far from enjoyable for most people, but “studying” in one form or another, is something that most of us have to do in life. This isn’t limited to our school years, particularly with the knowledge economy of the modern world. Learning new techniques, studying articles and publications, and ongoing education courses means that studying is something that all ages deal with. There’s no doubt that studying can be boring at times, so finding ways to make it more pleasant is a normal instinct. Listening to music while studying is a popular approach for many people, but it begs the question: Is it actually good to listen to music when you’re hitting the books?
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The Science of Sound and Studying
Studying for anything requires a certain amount of concentration, particularly if the material that you’re studying requires reading and comprehension. Now, sound isn’t inherently disruptive, and the benefits of background music will be explored shortly, but when it comes to music with lyrics, diligent students tend to run into more problems. Lyrics are language-based, just like the words you’re reading on the page, making it more difficult to focus on your study material, simply because you are essentially multi-tasking. Your ears are hearing the lyrics at the same time your eyes are reading the words. Your brain is attempting to process both of these language inputs simultaneously. Studies have shown that this happens with any form of changing state speech (stream of different words), not just lyrics. It could be someone counting up and down from 1-10, trying to hold a conversation with you, or the blare of a newscaster on television. Memory retention and comprehension are diminished across the board with changing state speech in the background of traditional language-based studying. On the other hand, lyrics don’t impact studying math as much because you are no longer trying to process two different language inputs.

The Separation of Brain Regions (Photo Credit: tandav / Fotolia)

The Personality Variable
The reason that this question remains so interesting is that the answer is likely different for every person in small, individual ways. For example, typically high-strung people may need soothing music to calm them down and find the right mental space for studying, whereas typically relaxed or even lackadaisical individuals may need something slightly more upbeat. Similarly, if you like a particular song, the pleasure of hearing the music will make the studying process more pleasant, but not necessarily better for memory/focus, as a song you know very well is more likely to distract you with associated memories. In other words, listening to new music – in a genre or style that you know you enjoy – may be a better choice than putting on your favorite album. Another interesting variable is personality type – introvert or extravert. Research has shown that introverts tend to prefer solitude and silence when they study, whereas extraverts prefer more external stimulation in their surroundings when they sit down for a study session. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personality and personal choice. What science (and most people) can agree on is the negative correlation of study success with lyric-intensive music. Beyond that, from complete silence to instrumental tunes, introvert vs. extrovert, loud, soft, or somewhere in between, it all depends on what works best for you!
Suggested Reading
- Studying For Finals? Let Classical Music Help - University of Southern California News
- The Benefits of Studying With Music - Florida National University
- 3 Reasons You Should Try Studying While Listening to Music - Colorado State University Online
- How Music Could Help You To Concentrate While Studying - Independent