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Fresh studies by Northeastern music educator Psyche Loui and Brain.fm identify the musical traits that enhance focus, particularly for those who may find the most benefit.
If you frequently slip in AirPods when you absolutely need to accomplish some tasks in your open-plan office, you’re definitely not the only one. Nearly 80% of adults engage in listening to music while working, and playlists thought to boost focus have become a common discovery on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
“Students are constantly wearing headphones, right? They always have some background music playing,” states Psyche Loui, an associate professor of music and head of the Music, Imaging, and Neural Dynamics(MIND) Laboratory at Northeastern University, which examines how music correlates with the brain. “Many individuals swear by it. However, others claim they cannot tolerate any music at all when they require concentration.”
Recent studies by Loui in partnership with Brain.fm, a company that creates music designed for focus, delve into the essence of this paradox by identifying and evaluating particular musical traits intended to activate the areas of the brain that aid in maintaining attention. The researchers discovered that not only do these elements function, but they are particularly effective for individuals with attention challenges, including ADHD.
Moreover, it reinforces the idea that music can serve as a valuable tool in scientific exploration related to neuroscience. “My research objective is to uncover not only how music can assist the brain but also how we can utilize music to enhance our understanding of brain functionality,” Loui states. In a publication published in the Nature journal Communication Biology, Loui and her team conducted a series of experiments assessing the impact of “rapid modulations” in a selection of Brain.fm music — swiftly altering acoustic cues to amplify the “louder sounds and reduce the softer ones,” Loui clarifies.
For this research, scientists collected EEG data and MRI images from approximately 40 participants who listened to a Brain.fm track while engaging in computer tasks that required prolonged focus (for comparison, participants also performed the tasks while listening to non-Brain.fm music, pink noise, and in silence).
During these observations, the rapid modulations in the Brain.fm track — a pulsating electronic instrumental piece featuring heavy bass and ascending synthesizer sequences — “triggered increased activity in attentional networks,” according to the study.
From this point, the researchers wondered if heightened rapid modulation could yield even greater advantages for individuals who showed attentional difficulties during earlier assessments. They modified the intensity and duration — discovering that more pronounced rapid modulation benefited that group significantly more.
What makes it effective? Loui explains that it relates to the brain’s inherent rhythmic oscillations.
“The brain actually oscillates at specific frequencies,” she points out. “If you incorporate those frequencies into the music, it might affect your brain activity at those same frequencies — we observed that the brain was clearly ‘phase locking,’ or [functioning] in synchrony with these amplitude modulations integrated into the music.
“Individuals experiencing ADHD symptoms tend to be more responsive to this,” she adds.
Nonetheless, anyone whose focus may stray occasionally — in other words, all of us — could gain advantages.
“Even individuals who have never been formally diagnosed with ADHD can exhibit symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, or trouble completing tasks,” she states. “That’s not inherently problematic, but when you’re specifically trying to accomplish work, background music or other stimuli that aid you in focusing a bit longer would be tremendously beneficial.”
The results reinforce Loui’s previous findings indicating that music — particularly music crafted for specific applications — can provide considerable cognitive advantages.
“Music acts as a form of brain stimulation,” Loui remarks. “While Brain.fm is exceptionally unique, other initiatives are also working to engineer music specifically to bolster cognitive function or assist with various needs. Perhaps you wish to use it for exercise. Or maybe for better sleep. We require more scientific research to decipher that.”
In the interim, she believes the study provides some useful insights for those aiming to select music that enhances concentration, even outside of Brain.fm’s offerings.
“Seek out fast-paced music that invigorates and motivates you without becoming a distraction,” she suggests. “And avoid lyrics.”
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