Spotify sports over 80 different playlists for a “focus” mood. Between “Restaurant Ambience,” “Coffee & Piano,” and “Chill Lofi Study Beats,” the offerings for anyone hoping to grind out work are plentiful (spotify.com). However, when one looks at these playlists, the variation in music genre is slim to none. All of the playlists border on classical music, whether it takes on a more lively, modern pace (lofi beats) or pairs with the sound of rain. While when humans often envision classical music playing when studying for a Psychology test, or drafting an essay, this type of music isn’t the most beneficial for everyone.

People with ADHD, for example, tend to be more effective in focus sessions with music that has a “consistent and repeating [rhythm],” such as “electronic music” (Fuller). In this sense, the normalization of slow and classical music for studying can actually be detrimental for some. While classical music could be effective in those who are neurotypical, it harms those who aren’t fully informed on how study music could affect them.

The effectiveness of study music in general also varies depends on the task presented. As shown below, BGM (background music) is more effective in reading and writing tasks (ones that require creative thinking), and far less effective in tasks that involve critical thinking and memorization. While we assume that focus music is meant simply for us to focus, it may actually decrease our levels of attentiveness to work.

A similar theory states that the effects of background music can actually vary between extroverts and introverts.

        Goltz, Franziska, and Makiko Sadakata state that, “according to [Eysenck’s  theory of personality], introverts have higher levels of cortical arousal compared to extroverts, which means that they need less or no external stimulation to reach optimal levels of arousal and thereby maximal cognitive performance. Therefore, a moderate or high external stimulant like BGM should lead to decreased performance in introverts, while not negatively influencing the performance of extroverts.”

While individual studies vary as to the verity of this theory, it stands to rest that a singular definition of what classifies as “study music” should not be utilized. Personally, I tend to use upbeat music, almost electronic music because classical music drills my brain. However, I’ve tried multiple kinds of study music and would like to encourage picking the best genre of music (or picking no music at all) by yourself. And let me know if you have a die-hard study playlist- I’m always looking for new songs.

Works Cited:

Eysenck, Hans Jurgen. “Biological basis of personality.” Nature 199.4898 (1963): 1031-1034.

Fuller, Geoffrey. “The Best Music for ADHD Concentration Reviewed for 2022.” The ADHD Lifestyle, 22 July 2022, https://theadhdlifestyle.com/2021/06/24/music-streaming-services-for-adhd/.

Goltz, Franziska, and Makiko Sadakata. “Do You Listen to Music While Studying? A Portrait of How People Use Music to Optimize Their Cognitive Performance.” Acta Psychologica, North-Holland, 20 Sept. 2021, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691821001670?via%3Dihub.

“lofi hip hop radio – beats to relax/study to“, YouTube, 12 July 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfKfPfyJRdk. Accessed 27 Oct. 2022.