Cognitive Processes in Students Exposed to Different Musical Genres

Abstract

As an integral part of human culture, music affects cognitive processes and emotional states. This research featured the impact that different musical genres produce on cognitive processes. The experiments involved the survey method, as well as standard psychological tests and tools for cognitive assessment that measured concentration, memory capacity, and mood. The study involved 135 university students aged 18–27 y.o.; they were divided into nine independent groups of 15 people in each. The students were exposed to musical compositions of three genres: classical music, rock music, and electronic music. Each genre covered three test groups. Their cognitive performance was analyzed before and after the experimental stage. The differences in cognitive performance obtained for various musical genres can have practical application in education and psychotherapy. Classical music increased attention, enhanced memory capacity, and stabilized mood whereas rock music and electronic music had a multidirectional effect. This article casts a new perspective on the mechanisms of interaction between music and cognitive processes, thus expanding the existing database in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive sciences.