This is the third article in a four-part series about the relationship between physical health and learning.
Mozart, Bach, Brahms and Beethoven--all are considered talented musical geniuses; now, some people believe that musical genius can be converted into an A on that calculus midterm.
Some people believe that listening to classical music while studying may help boost IQ and enhance memory and cognition. This phenomenon, originally known as the Mozart Effect and first brought to light by F.H. Rauscher, has come under recent scrutiny for its lack of reproducible results. So, can listening to classical music while studying result in increased performance on an exam? Scientists say it all depends.
Kevin Labar, assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences, said listening to classical music may enhance performance of visual spatial tasks, but the effects are transient, lasting only about 10 or 15 minutes--not nearly long enough to claim any real benefit.
"It seems to relate in general to creating a pleasant mood, and inducing a pleasant mood seems to clarify thinking," Labar said. He explained that if anything, listening to classical music may create a relaxing mood.
"[It puts you in a] positive framework. It creates a calming state, which allows you to process another task more efficiently," Labar said, adding that no research has shown that listening to classical music is different from engaging in any other calming activity.
The calming state increases hormone release while minimizing aversive hormones, such as those that cause stress. According to research, creating a balance between these two types of hormones can help consolidate memory.
However, scientists say the potential effects of classical music depend on music preference--if a person does not find it calming, he will most likely experience few results.
But will listening to classical music while cramming the night before a big test still improve your performance? Not likely, says Labar.
The best way to enhance memory is to study over a longer period of time, he explained. Cramming the night before a test decreases the likelihood of performing valuable and deeper encoding tasks. To truly benefit from studying, he said, material should be encoded in a variety of ways, and then related to one's personal experiences or other classes.
Whether it be by listening to Pachelbel's Canon in D or simply thinking pleasant thoughts, research has shown that the same psychological calming effect--which may or may not increase performance--can be produced.
Many Duke students expressed respect for classical music, but not a love of the genre itself. Still, some said they listen to classical especially for its mood-creating effect.
"It just calms me down," freshman Rachel Knox said. "Sometimes, silence is just too much."
Jennifer Song contributed to this story.
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