Music’s Influence on Focus and Concentration: A Puzzle-Solving Task Study

Category

Psychology >Cognitive Psychology > Cognitive Processes >Music and Cognitive Performance

Received

July 29, 2023

Accepted

March 27, 2024

Published

July 1, 2024

Authors

Daniyal Kheradmand, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Alison Sloat, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Authors

Daniyal Kheradmand(DK)¹* Alison Sloat, Ph.D.¹

Author Affiliations

¹College of Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA.

Corresponding Author

*Daniyal Kheradmand, kheradma@unlv.nevada.edu

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9741/2766-7227.1029

Author Contributions

(DK): Conceptualization of the research question, experimental design, participant recruitment, data collection, statistical analysis, original draft writing, reviewing and editing

(AS): Guidance and input on experimental design, supervision of data collection, critical oversight of statistical analysis, assistance in data interpretation, reviewing and editing.

Copyright

Articles in Spectra are freely available under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) which allows others to re-use the work without permission as long as the work is properly cited.

Data Availability Statement

The author of this article confirms that all included sources are fully available without restrictions.

Conflicts of Interest

The author declares that no conflicts of interest exist.

Ethical Considerations

Participant Recruitment and Informed Consent: Participants were recruited from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, encompassing a diverse group of students and staff. Each participant was fully informed about the study's objectives, procedures, and potential impacts. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, ensuring they understood their participation was voluntary and they could withdraw at any time without penalty.

Funding

This research was conducted without any external funding sources.

Abstract

This research investigates the effect of preferred music on enhancing focus and concentration during puzzle-solving tasks. Conducted with a diverse group of 50 participants at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the study examined the influence of individual musical preferences on cognitive performance. Participants were tasked with solving puzzles under two conditions: listening to their favorite music and in silence. The findings reveal that 68% of the participants demonstrated improved performance in puzzle-solving when listening to music they preferred. This suggests a significant positive correlation between preferred music and enhanced cognitive task performance. The study contributes to the understanding of how personal music preferences can be leveraged to improve concentration and focus in specific cognitive tasks. It acknowledges limitations in scope and suggests further research to explore the effects across different types of cognitive tasks and a broader range of musical genres. It also highlights potential applications in educational and professional settings where concentration is crucial.

Keywords

Music, Study, Focus, Concentration, Puzzle-Solving

Submission Type

Primary research article

Recommended Citation

Kheradmand, D., Sloat, A. (2023) Music’s Influence on Focus and Concentration: A Puzzle-Solving Task Study Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal, 3(2), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.9741/2766-7227.1029