The Science of… Listening to Music While Studying

School is back in session and if, like us, you’re trying to remember how to focus effectively then this might help...

Many people enjoy reading with music, but does it actually help or hurt our comprehension? A recent study has shed light on this age-old question by examining how self-selected background music affects our reading skills.

The study focused on a group of young university students who were asked to read passages while listening to music of their choice. Their eye movements were carefully monitored to measure how long they spent fixating on different words and how often they regressed (moved backward in the text). These metrics provide valuable clues about the cognitive effort involved in reading comprehension.

The results were intriguing. While it was initially believed that background music could enhance focus and concentration, the results showed that listening to music didn't significantly impact overall reading comprehension or metacognition (our ability to think about our own thinking), but it did affect the way we process information.

Specifically, participants who listened to music tended to spend more time fixating on individual words and were more likely to regress. This suggests that music might be diverting some of our cognitive resources and impose a heavier cognitive load on post-lexical processes. In other words, music might be distracting our brains from fully engaging with the meaning of words and sentences in a text.

However, the researchers also discovered that the effects of music varied depending on individual factors. People with higher English proficiency or those who frequently listen to music while studying were less likely to experience a negative impact. On the other hand, individuals with higher working memory capacity seemed to invest more mental effort when reading with music.

These findings suggest that while music might not be a universal aid to reading, it can be a helpful tool for some people.

So, does this mean you should ditch your headphones while studying? Not necessarily. It's possible that for some people, the emotional benefits of listening to music can outweigh any potential cognitive drawbacks. Ultimately, the key is to find a learning environment that helps us to focus and thrive.

Next time you're curled up with a good book, consider the potential benefits (or drawbacks) of adding a musical soundtrack.

Do you listen to music while you study? And will you be switching it up to see whether it helps with your focus? Let us know in the comments or on socials @LitLabLondon

Sources:

Que, Y., Zheng, Y., Hsiao, J.H. et al. Studying the effect of self-selected background music on reading task with eye movements. Sci Rep13, 1704 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28426-1

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