Background music and cognitive performance

Author(s)

Leslie A. Angel, University of Dayton
Donald J. Polzella, University of DaytonFollow
Greg C. Elvers, University of Dayton

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Publication Source

Perceptual and Motor Skills

Abstract

The present experiment employed standardized test batteries to assess the effects of fast-tempo music on cognitive performance among 56 male and female university students. A linguistic processing task and a spatial processing task were selected from the Criterion Task Set developed to assess verbal and nonverbal performance. Ten excerpts from Mozart's music matched for tempo were selected. Background music increased the speed of spatial processing and the accuracy of linguistic processing. The findings suggest that background music can have predictable effects on cognitive performance.

Inclusive pages

1059-1064

ISBN/ISSN

0031-5125

Volume

110

Issue

3

Peer Reviewed

yes

Keywords

Spatial Processing, Linguistic Processing, Background Music

eCommons Citation

Angel, Leslie A.; Polzella, Donald J.; and Elvers, Greg C., "Background music and cognitive performance" (2010). Psychology Faculty Publications. 77.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/psy_fac_pub/77