Feeling tired? Cranking up the music might help you focus.
Well rested? It will probably make it harder to concentrate.
Research from 1963 by Robert T. Wilkinson found that well-rested participants performed worse on a cognitive task when loud noise was added, while sleepy participants performed better.
The explanation?
Arousal levels.
When weβre tired, background noise can boost our arousal and sharpen focus.
But when weβre already alert, extra stimulation becomes a distraction.
We often think about coffee to get us in the right energetic state.
Now, we can add music to the list. The trick is matching it to how alert you already are.
What about you β do you have a go-to playlist to get you in the right frame of mind? When do you prefer silence?
Ref: Wilkinson, R.T. Interaction of noise with knowledge of results and sleep deprivation.. J. Exp. Psychol. 1963, 66, 332β337, https://doi.org/10.1037/h0044161.
π If you found this interesting, let me know! Buy me a virtual coffee β or forward this email βοΈ to someone who also might like it. Your occasional support means I can keep sharing ideas about behavioural science for free.
π§ Learn the science of Influencing Action
π Be shown exactly what to do to get better results for your small business
Hey, are we connected yet?
