The effect of preferred background music on task‐focus in sustained attention

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Kiss, Luca and Linnell, Karina J. 2021. The effect of preferred background music on task‐focus in sustained attention. Psychological Research, 85(6), pp. 2313-2325. ISSN 0340-0727 [Article]

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Official URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00426...

Abstract or Description

Although many people listen to music while performing tasks that require sustained attention, the literature is inconclusive about its effects. The present study examined performance on a sustained-attention task and explored the effect of background music on the prevalence of different attentional states, founded on the non-linear relationship between arousal and performance. Forty students completed a variation of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task—that has long been used to measure sustained attention—in silence and with their self-selected or preferred music in the background. We collected subjective reports of attentional state (specifically mind-wandering, task-focus and external distraction states) as well as reaction time (RT) measures of performance. Results indicated that background music increased the proportion of task-focus states by decreasing mind-wandering states but did not affect external distraction states. Task-focus states were linked to shorter RTs than mind-wandering or external distraction states; however, background music did not reduce RT or variability of RT significantly compared to silence. These findings show for the first time that preferred background music can enhance task-focused attentional states on a low-demanding sustained-attention task and are compatible with arousal mediating the relationship between background music and task-performance.

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Article

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-020-01400-6