Music to Your Ears (and Brain)

"Music has charms to soothe the savage beast." But can it help you focus?

British poet William Congreve may have been on to something when he wrote this famous quote in 1697. Listening to music has tons of benefits. It can help increase overall happiness, stave off depression, and elevate your mood. Music can be the soundtrack to every workout session, and just the thing you need to drift off to sleep.

The perfect song can harken back to your first dance, first kiss, or wedding day. Songs serve as placeholders in your memories. The perfect tune can get you fired up before your next meeting, or be the backdrop music for a splendid dinner party.

Because music means so much to so many people, let's examine why we connect with music and how it can help us focus.

A Series of Notes

Music makes us feel good. But why?

Killer guitar solos or a booming bassline get us moving, but music touches us on a physiological level. Listening to pleasurable music can activate brain regions called the limbic and paralimbic areas. These zones are connected to euphoric reward responses that release dopamine.

Music sets up sonic patterns and regularities which trick us into anticipating the next note or musical phrasing. Because great songs resolve (or end) the way we expect, we're rewarded with dopamine.

As we connect with music on this level, our minds are subconsciously listening for these patterns. That's why scientists suggest you listen to classical or orchestra music while accomplishing mental tasks. It traditionally doesn't have lyrics, so your brain can take in the music and not distract you with discordance or cacophony.

Given a choice, most people would choose Taylor Swift over Beethoven. And while T-Swift is better for rocking out, Beethoven is probably a better choice if you need to concentrate on your next project.

Maestro, If You Please...

 

Music activates both sides of your brain. Scientists have studied how music can potentially take somebody from the Beta brainwave state to a deeper Alpha and eventually into the Theta brainwave state.

Here's a quick reminder of the different brainwave states:

  • Beta: The data collection state of our brainwaves. We spend most of our waking hours in Beta, where we observe, study, and engage in problem-solving activities.
  • Alpha: The resting state of the brain. Time spent in Alpha allows us to consolidate our experiences gathered in Beta and form them into memories.
  • Theta: The gateway to learning, memory, and intuition construction. We enter Theta during sleep or deep meditation. In Theta, we process information subconsciously and integrate experiences into lasting awareness.

Because listening to music is one of the few activities we engage in that utilizes both the left and right side of the brain, selecting the right music can help maximize learning and improve memory connections.

Sound Check

The soothing sounds of classical music are great to keep you engaged in both the music and focusing on your project. You won't be disturbed by people singing-lyrics can take your mind away from the task at hand. That's why podcasts or talk radio can be distracting while you're studying. Classical music tends to be played at a temp of 60-70 beats per minute. At this pace, it can calm you and put you in the right mindset to concentrate.

You study best when your mind is at ease. And listening to classical music can help you perform tasks more effectively. This theory has been dubbed the Mozart Effect. Classical music may allow you to visualize outcomes more effectively. In addition, the Mozart Effect can enhance your ability to manipulate shapes and solve spatial puzzles.

Try it for yourself. Beethoven's "Für Elise" is often used by students to help them study longer and retain more information. It's sweeping, calming, and very beautiful. The piano takes you on an audio journey. It starts slowly with a familiar riff and builds gently throughout the piece. Because each note compliments the proceeding one, your mind can shut out the outside world and you can concentrate on the task at hand.

Pump Up the Jams

Your musical taste is only limited by your exposure.

Streaming music services have channels to meet any of your needs. Spotify has a whole section dedicated to music to help you focus. You'll be exposed to a variety of classical music, as well as natural sounds, ambient music, and calming electronic compositions.

Check out the following Spotify stations to help clear your mind and focus.

No one song is going to give you the power to apply total concentration. Here are some other tips to help you get there:

  • Eliminate distractions
  • Focus on one project at a time
  • Be mindful
  • Take short breaks
  • Be patient

Drinking coffee or taking a cognitive support supplement is helpful as well. USANA CopaPrime+ has the nootropic support to help your mind cut through the clutter. Formulated with American ginseng, bacopa monneri, and coffee fruit extract, it can provide targeted antioxidant protection to help you focus on the things that matter most.*

For more information on CopaPrime+, check out this scientific article.

Ben Raskin is a science writer and lover of American blues music. He'd love to have played with Robert Johnson. Follow him on Instagram @USANAben

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 

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