How Does Music Affect Us Psychologically?

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of my project is to determine whether or not music affects us psychologically. I believe music will either increase or decrease memory retention as well as alter mood and creativity. Methods/Materials Informed consent was received from 22 subjects, 7 male and 15 femailes, ranging in age from 12 to 72. Memory retention and creativity were tested using no-music as a baseline - then again tested while playing 3 different genres of music in the background. A series of tests using word flash cards were performed to help measure memory retension. Subjects were also asked to draw a pictures; these pictures were then analyzed for creativity. Subjects were asked to write down their emotions and seperately, asked to write down how the music made them feel. Blood pressure readings were also taken. Results Classical music played in the background boosted memory retention scores 32.5%, a lot higher than any other music genre. Playing no music closely followed classical music at 23.3%. Conclusions/Discussion My conclusion is that music definitely has an affect on us psychologically; surprisingly, not in all the ways I had originally hypothosized.

Competition history

• CSEF 2007 Cognitive Science (Junior Division Only) · Entry J0612

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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