With AP exams, essays, and assessments all coming up soon, PDS students have started to ramp up their studying. Whether that looks like working in a group, alone, at a library, or at a cafe, each student has their own unique way of studying that works for them. But, for many, one key question remains—should music be included in the study routine? 

As a person who gets distracted easily, music is a no-go for me. A perfectly silent study environment is ideal, and having tunes playing in the background would disrupt that. Freshman Jamie Yao echoes my thoughts, saying, “Listening to music just distracts me. All I can focus on is the lyrics instead of the task at hand,” and this is supported by a Texas A&M study, which showed that it takes extra cognitive effort to listen to music, as your brain is forced to multitask. This makes studying a more mentally draining task and decreases the amount of information that is retained.

However, some PDS students disagree. Junior Sarah Bridgeman voiced her positive opinion regarding music while studying, noting that “music actually keeps me focused! It blocks out any unnecessary background noise that may be present.” A study run by the National Center for Biotechnology Information revealed that listening to binaural beats, a type of music that combines different sound frequencies, helps retain focus and also increases response accuracy. Additionally, they support memory retention. 

When it comes to the question of music, there are compelling arguments for both sides. Different strategies work for different people, and though it may take some experimentation to find, there is something out there for everyone! No matter how PDS students choose to study, we will get through this final push of the second semester. For me, personally, that will be happening in blissful silence!

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