Can Lo-fi Music Really Help Us Focus?

Hello Science Fans!

Do you like to listen to music while studying or working?

Some people say that music can help your brain focus better. But some people are saying  that certain types of music, like “lo-fi,” can be even more helpful for concentration and reducing stress.

What’s lo-fi music? It’s a kind of music intentionally made with imperfections, like wrong notes or background noise. Unlike super-clear music (hi-fi), these flaws in lo-fi music can allegedly help you concentrate and can thus tune your brain into study mode.

But is this true? Can certain types of music help us focus?

To find out the answer, you can watch our video below or read thru this article:

Before I answer these questions using science, let me first introduce myself to our new viewers.

My name is Chona and I’m your resident Filipina scientist.

I’m a researcher in the field of molecular biology, which can be stressful, so I’m curious about legit ways to focus and destress.

I’m also a college professor and I empathize with the struggles of my students — so I’m always in the lookout for tech that can help with their studies.

And SHE-ensya is my science communication channel, where I get to talk about the science behind some trends that can improve the quality of our lives.

Why is lo-fi so popular for studying? 

Well, it has a relaxing vibe that keeps you engaged without making you too sleepy. Plus, there are no lyrics to distract you, so you can read and write better. People often play lo-fi on repeat because it’s predictable and not distracting. This keeps blood flowing to the brain but also prevents surprises that can trigger unnecessary spikes of the stress hormone.

But there’s more to it. Music can boost your mood, and result to the release of the happy hormone called dopamine. This can put you in a positive mindset for studying. 

And if annoying noises bug you, music can drown them out and help you focus. Good headphones or earbuds for the best sound quality and noise cancellation could even amplify the effect.

But if studying or work gives you anxiety, music can help also.

Listening to music at 432 Hz is believed to be relaxing by some people.

Please note that music is made up of sound waves, and each note has a specific frequency. The standard tuning for most music today is at 440 Hz, meaning the A note is set to vibrate 440 times per second. Some believe that tuning music to 432 Hz, which is a slightly lower frequency, can be more relaxing because it’s closer to the natural vibration of the Earth and our bodies.

The popular explanation is that our bodies and the Earth resonate at frequencies around 432 Hz, so listening to music at this frequency might feel more harmonious and calming. However, the scientific evidence for this claim is not very strong, but there have been studies indicating the benefits of listening to this type of music.

Studies aimed to investigate the impact of listening to 432 Hz music during work breaks, studying, going to the dentist, and more on the state of anxiety and vital signs have been done. These involved the measurement of various quantitative information, such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory – STAIX1, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), pain, and productivity (measured using the Likert Scale).

Studies show that stress levels, respiratory rate and systolic blood pressure all decreased for groups listening to 432Hz music. And this could mean that music could be a cost-effective albeit short-term strategy to manage anxiety and stress. Of course, further research is needed to assess the medium and long-term effects of this intervention.

Not all music are the same. When making your playlist, pick music that makes you happy. Create your playlist ahead of time, so you’re not searching for songs every few minutes. Make it about 40-50 minutes long to remind you to take study breaks. And avoid the radio because the chit-chat and ads can be distracting. Keep the volume at a moderate level, and you’ll be in the calm zone in no time!

But what do you think?

Do you like it when music is playing when you study or da you prefer complete silence? What other techniques do you have to calm down?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Thank you so much for dropping by!

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact me, your resident Filipina scientist, in the comments section below.

And remember, when in doubt, always use your (con)science!