Your favorite song might help you more than you think! Read about music research and try a little practice.
Recent studies suggest that music may:
-
Restore attention after mental fatigue.
-
Reduce the effects of acute stress.
-
Support the brain's ability to learn and change.
Daniel J. Levitin, a neuroscientist and cognitive psychologist, says:
“Relaxing music can modulate prolactin, a soothing, tranquilizing hormone. Music also releases dopamine which helps us to focus and motivates us to stay on task.”
He adds that music “can push us into what’s called the default mode network – essentially the daydreaming state. In that mode you’re not consciously directing your thoughts <...> It’s a restorative, healthful state of consciousness.”
Across the studies, researchers used classical music, music that builds and releases tension, as well as participants' personal favorites.
Try This
Choose one of the options:
Find five minutes in your busy schedule and put on a song. Turn on “Do Not Disturb” and try just to sit and listen.
Read Next
Scientific and Other Sources
-
Daniel J. Levitin on Music & the Brain, 2025, Thought Economics.
-
The structural dynamics of music drive acute stress recovery through functional reorganization of stress-regulation networks, You et al., 2026.
-
Music boosts the recovery of attention after mental fatigue in healthy young male subjects: A human auditory event-related potential study, Wang et al., 2025.
-
Music-Evoked Nostalgia Activates Default Mode and Reward Networks Across the Lifespan, Hennessy et al., 2025.
-
Music changes brain functioning and development, Pop-Jordanova, 2025.
Author: Science Writer Vlada Sukhanovskaya
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How does listening to music affect the brain?
Music activates brain networks involved in attention, memory, emotion, and reward. Research suggests that musical experiences may also influence neural plasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and change.
2. Can music help improve focus and attention?
Yes, preliminary research suggests that music may help restore attention after mental fatigue. A 2025 study by Wang et al. found that five minutes of classical music supported recovery of attention-related brain activity in healthy young men.
3. Can listening to music reduce stress?
Research suggests that music may support recovery from acute stress. A 2026 study by You et al. found that musical dynamics were associated with changes in brain networks involved in stress regulation and recovery.
4. What type of music is best for brain health?
There is no single genre proven to be best for brain health. Researchers have studied classical music, personally meaningful songs, and music with changing tension and release. Familiar songs associated with positive memories may be particularly effective at engaging memory and reward networks.
5. How long should you listen to music to experience benefits?
Some research has found improvements in attention-related measures after just five minutes of music listening. Try taking a five-minute break, turning on “Do Not Disturb,” and listening to a song without distractions.
Summary
Research suggests that listening to music may help restore attention after mental fatigue, support recovery from acute stress, and influence brain activity associated with memory, emotion, and neuroplasticity. Studies have examined classical music, personally meaningful songs, and music with changing patterns of tension and release. A simple practice is to spend five uninterrupted minutes listening to music you enjoy.