Music Can Boost Learning and Academic Performance: Study

Music is considered soothing, calming, and refreshing. But few are aware that music has the power to boost our cognition and learning. As per a new research, the connection between music and positive impact on one's learning abilities and academic performance.
 

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Previous studies conducted to assess learning patterns in children from varied socioeconomic backgrounds revealed that there is a significant level of difference in the learning abilities of children from middle and upper-middle income groups, and those hailing from the disadvantaged sections of society.

To explore this further, a new research, presented at the American Psychological Association's 122^nd Annual Convention, got hundreds of children to participate in musical training programs of public schools in Chicago and Los Angeles. The results were quite promising and emphasized the positive impact that music could have in bridging learning gaps among children by helping the academically weaker students (from impoverished communities) to improve their learning abilities and academic outcomes.
 
Among the study's interesting findings is the fact that musical training can make changes to a person's brain and nervous system in such a way that it can result in enhancing learning abilities, and helping close academic gap between 'quick' and 'slow' learners. Regular music training and practice improves the manner in which a child's nervous system processes sounds in a busy environment, for e.g., a classroom or a playground. An advanced neural function, in turn, has beneficial effects on memory and attention spans, which also contributes to greater focus and better communication skills.
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Source: Gizmodo India