Why learning a musical instrument could stave off ‘brain rot’ and help concentration
Learning a musical instrument could prevent “brain rot” and boost concentration in young people glued to social media, research has suggested.
As parents and teachers raise concerns that social media is contributing to shorter attention spans, one study found “formal musical training is associated with superior attention and vigilance” and suggests music lessons could be the antidote.
The study, published in the British Journal of Psychology, revealed that children and young adults were less likely to lose focus during attention-heavy tasks if they had learned an instrument.
“Musical training may not only enrich cultural and emotional life, but also contribute to the development of important cognitive abilities such as attention and vigilance,” Rafael Román-Caballero of McMaster University in Canada, who led the study, told The Times.
For the study, 268 people aged eight to 34 were split into two groups: musicians and non-musicians. They then completed computer-based tasks designed to put their attention spans to the test.
The main task saw participants watch a screen and decide whether a singular arrow pointed left or right, while trying not to get distracted by other arrows positioned around it.
Participants with formal musical training responded faster and showed fewer lapses in attention, in comparison to those with no music lessons.
The findings come as children’s lives have increasingly become saturated with social media, video streaming and smartphones, which studies have found can erode their ability to concentrate.
One study by Swedish and US researchers tracked children’s daily screen habits and found that those who spent a “significant” amount of time using social media recorded a gradual decline in attention levels.
But music may help to counteract this so-called “brain rot” because it requires learning rhythm, reading music, mastering technique and correcting mistakes, the study authors suggested.
“Like many cognitive abilities, attention may become more refined and efficient the more it is exercised,” Mr Román-Caballero said.
However, researchers behind the study warned the results were “moderate” and music lessons would not spark a “dramatic cognitive transformation”.
The study also concluded “better attention might make individuals more likely to engage in musical training, which in turn could further enhance their attentional skills.”
It highlighted that people with musical training might be “more willing to exert effort” and approach demanding tasks with more motivation.
“In this sense, musical training would improve performance by altering the effort willingness of the musicians, not their cognitive capacities themselves,” the study authors added.
