How can listening to and playing music improve cognitive functions?

Abstract

The effect of music on cognitive functions has been a widely debated topic for years, and a singular consensus has yet to be reached. This review is an examination of the effects of music on cognitive functions in order to determine whether or not music is truly beneficial or if it actually causes harm. The effect on memory, attention, and executive functions were considered for both listening to music and playing a musical instrument. A multitude of experiments and studies were considered for each aspect of cognitive functioning. In terms of experiments regarding memory, many different types of memory, such as short and long term memory as well as immediate recall, delayed recall, and delayed recognition were considered. Regarding attention, verbal and auditory attention were both reviewed. Being that executive functioning has such a wide scope, this was considered when determining changes in executive functions. An overview of this review reveals that listening to music, although it can be slightly harmful to memory and beneficial to attention only in low arousal situations, has little effect on cognitive functions. However, it is also revealed that playing a musical instrument can be largely beneficial to the development of cognitive functions. These findings advocate for the spread of applications such as Music Therapy and for the increased funding for music education in schools.