While it's fairly common knowledge that music is good for the soul, new research from Spotify and clinic psychologist Dr. Emma Gray reveals that it may help make you smarter, as well. So put on those headphones, the Daily Mail reports, because the newest Miley Cyrus song may help improve your brain power!
Gray specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy at The British CBT and Counselling Service in London, and believes that emotive pop and rock songs can create a "heightened sense of excitement" that may enhance performance in studies of English, Drama and Performing Arts. Her latest research was commissioned by Spotify to help investigate how listening to certain kinds of music can help you study and stimulate your ability to learn.
"Music can put you in a better frame of mind to learn - and indeed, students who listen to music can actually do better than those who don't," Gray told the Daily Mail of her latest research.
Students who listen to classical music with 60 to 70 beats per minute scored on average of 12 percent more in their Maths exams than their peers, Gray found, most likely because the melody and tone range of such music allows students to retain learned information for much longer and does not distract them from focusing. Gray also concluded that pop songs like "Firework" by Katy Perry, "Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake and "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus were found to foster logical thinking and help students learn and recall new facts.
We're assuming Perry and Cyrus's latest songs, "Roar" and "Wrecking Ball," respectively, could be added to this list!
However, the type of music one should listen to depends on the student, as does its effects on the brain.
"For logical subjects, like Maths, music should calm the mind and help concentration, whereas for creative subjects, the music should reflect the emotion that the student is trying to express," Gray said.
"With millions of students streaming music on Spotify, it's great to see the positive effect it could have on their studies," said Angela Watts, vice president of global communications at Spotify. With the help of Gray, Spotify created a set of special playlists for students that aims to help improve their study skills and abilities.
