Are you familiar with the notion that listening to classical music can make you more intelligent? This widely held belief dubbed the “Mozart effect”, is based on a small study made in the 90s, where participants who got to listen to classical music before taking an IQ test performed better than those who did not.

Upon publication, the findings were swiftly embraced and enthusiastically put to use by the public. Interestingly, the efforts to improve intelligence were mainly targeted towards the younger generation. Classical music found its way into schools and pop culture. You might remember Disney’s children’s program “Little Einsteins”, a product heavily influenced by the Mozart effect, with animated characters utilizing classical music and art to solve problems. It also entered the households in the form of new lullabies, which created a market for albums such as “Baby Mozart” and “Beethoven for Babies”. One governor in Georgia actually began giving all expecting mothers free CDs with classical music of their choice, a seemingly inexpensive investment in the pursuit of building a smarter community. 

Yet, If significantly less cultured tunes rocked you to sleep growing up, It does not seem like you have to wonder about possible forgone potential. The “Mozart effect” is apparently more myth than reality, as the effect wears off after just 15 minutes after the music stops. The cognitive advantage is instead believed to be a result of the mood-enhancing and relaxing impact of the music, rather than any lasting improvements in intelligence. 

However, these benefits can still be leveraged, as studies do suggest that listening to music while studying can improve the productivity of the session. As previously mentioned it grants an uplifting and relaxing effect, which according to science is the ideal mental state for cognitive performance (I would argue that one can study most efficiently stressed and irritated as well, but that is neither here nor there). Moreover, it activates brain networks such as the hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex, which are associated with creativity and memory retention. It also facilitates keeping your focus on the task at hand by blocking out distractions and might serve as a motivator. 

Interestingly, the benefits of music for studying are not limited to classical compositions by Beethoven or Mozart. whilst songs with a lot of lyrics seem to be advised against during study sessions, It is otherwise suggested that the optimal choice of genre is highly individual.  Since LUSEM is filled with diligent and competent students, I could not help but wonder about their musical preferences while studying. Thus, I took the initiative to ask around in EC to compile a collection with some of the students’ favoured study tracks. 

I asked Sebastian Witt, who can often be spotted in the corridors of EC wearing headphones, what he enjoys listening to while studying. Sebastian states that he always listens to music when he studies but the genre varies depending on the task of the day. When writing or working on assignments he enjoys listening to hard rock. The tracks “Kickstart My Heart” by Mötley Crüe and “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath are mentioned as favorites for this pursuit. When reading he instead enjoys more subdued tunes like jazz or indie. 

I have also asked Eric Anzalone. He says that he prefers to listen to purple noise when he studies, a previously unbeknownst genre for me. Essentially it sounds like constant tinnitus, but whatever rocks your boat, Eric. 

I asked Elin and Emma what their favorite genre of study music is. Most commonly Elin listens to lo-fi beats but also enjoys techno and house focus. Emma introduced me to brown noise, which is her preferred genre. It is not that far from the purple noise, however it is a lot more muffled and fairly similar to the sound of rain. According to Emma, the brown noise varies in quality and she can distinguish a good track from a bad one immediately. 

Apparently, there is a myriad of differently colored noises out there, which makes for an interesting internet deep-dive for the intrigued. 

Melinda Nord, Lundans hardworking project leader, states that she prefers to listen to “River Flows In You” by Yiruma while working. Why? She claims that it provides an unmatched level of focus. 

Further, Albin and Simon, familiar faces from the board of 23/24 have shared what songs help them focus. The former states that he simply loves Skrillex. 

All answers and suggestions (including those of respondents who wanted to remain anonymous or I could not squeeze into the article) have been compiled into a playlist which you can find here. It is essentially the nerdy equivalent to Vieriets astromix, featuring the collected study music of the students of LUSEM. Whether you are gearing up for upcoming exams or simply in need of a new soundtrack, I hope it comes in handy.