Infreemation

Rock on! Study shows rock music makes you smarter

All those years I spent listening to rock music on my headphones while studying were not in vain. Reported in the Times Online: “Researchers at a Scottish university believe that the sound of guitar-based rock such as Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC and the Red Hot Chili Peppers improves concentration and boosts memory”

This new study of the “Mozart Effect” where brainpower is boosted by classical music has found:

Those played rock music required less mental energy to carry out the task successfully. I would expect to see a similar effect with pop fans played pop music or anyone else exposed to their favourite type of music. The music primes the brain to perform certain tasks more efficiently.

The particularly good news is that you are likely to benefit from whatever kind of music you enjoy. Perhaps within some reasonable bounds. Music snobs are no doubt appalled. Well let me distract them with this: speaking of the music you enjoy, I recommend checking out Musiclens, a new tool designed to help find music you might enjoy, based on a variety of inputs such as tempo and your mood. Great interface!

Incidentally, I should mention that rock music also helps you play better frisbee: Tout Pour le Rock!