American scientists from Wesleyan University, together with specialists from the startup Brain.fm, found out what kind of music improves concentration in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study was published in the scientific journal Communication Biology (CommsBio).
The team conducted a series of tests measuring the effectiveness of fast modulations in a piece of music. Fast modulations muffle loud sounds and make quiet sounds more distinct.
In the study, the researchers took electroencephalography readings and conducted MRI scans on approximately 40 volunteers who listened to the composition while performing attention tasks.
Experts noted that electronic compositions with heavy bass and rising synth scales caused activity in the brain's attention networks.
“The brain vibrates at certain frequencies. If you insert these frequencies into music, it can affect brain activity. We saw that the brain very clearly synchronized or worked in time with these amplitude modulations,” explained study co-author Psyche Louis.
According to scientists, a similar effect also affects people without ADHD. To focus, you need to choose fast, energetic music without lyrics that can distract from the task at hand.
