by ETX
According to a survey, some 40% of UK adults think they perform better when they work to music. Photography Viktoriia Hnatiuk / Getty Images©
Whether in the library or at the office, it's not uncommon to see people working with headphones on. Listening to music is said to boost concentration and productivity. While the scientific community is divided as to the real benefits of this practice, music lovers are far more convinced.
Nearly a quarter of working people and students in the UK say that music helps them get into "work mode," according to a new Canon/OnePoll survey. Many believe that they are more motivated to work harder when they work while listening to music, which helps them perform better (40%).
Generally speaking, people believe that music provides many benefits. Some 17% of those polled are convinced that listening to music helps them be more creative, while 40% say it helps them pass the time. Plus, 35% of respondents say that music makes revision or work sessions more fun.
So it's hardly surprising that some people can't work or study any other way. Over 15% of UK adults say they would find it difficult to carry out certain work or study tasks at home without music playing in the background.
Fortunately for them, there is an endless supply of playlists on the internet designed to promote concentration and efficiency. But proponents of working with music on seem to have their own favorite tracks for maximizing their intellectual capacity. That's why 11% of those surveyed have created their own musical selections to help them focus on what they need to do.
What about the 'Mozart effect'?
But does music really make people work better? Nothing is less certain. Many followers of this practice rely on what is commonly known as the "Mozart effect." This concept was theorized in the 1990s, following the publication of a study in the scientific journal Nature that claimed that the compositions of the Austrian classical music genius were conducive to learning. Decades later, however, researchers at the University of Vienna's Faculty of Psychology came to the conclusion that there is no scientific proof of the "Mozart effect," after studying around 3,000 cases compiled in some 40 research studies.
Working to music is therefore more a question of personality than productivity. But if you feel the need, it's a good idea to listen to songs that are unfamiliar tunes, or slower, less rhythmic songs. Listening to music you like triggers a secretion of dopamine in the brain, which helps create a feeling of pleasure and serenity. But it also encourages a loss of concentration, which produces the opposite of the desired effect. It's up to you to weigh up the pros and cons.
Reference
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