Issue 5
Vol. 43
2001

R. Leichner, M. Bechenek, R. Kroh, S. Schneider
The effect of music kind and listening style on cognitive performance: hemispheric activation and gender differences

We investigated the influence of two experimental factors on cognitive performance: Kind of  music and style of listening. Music was quick and rhythmical or slow and smooth and listening style was empathical or analyzing. Further we explored whether there are gender differences. The study is based on the fact that activation level is higher for male than for female participants. Beyond that male participants like stimulation intensifying activation level more than female participants do. Quick and rhythmical music increases activation level whereas slow and smooth music dampens it. Activation is one component of an emotion induced by music. There is an inverted u-shaped relation between activation level and cognitive performance. The hypothesis is that quick and rhythmical music should increase male participants’ activation level additionally to their high basic level. Consequently male participants’ activation level is too high to perform well in cognitive tasks. Slow and smooth music decreases activation level and in consequence male participants’ performance is good. Compared to male participants the activation level of female participants is lower. It follows that for female participants there should be an inverted effect: good performance after activating, quick and rhythmical music and poor performance after deactivating, slow and smooth music. These results should realize only on condition that female and male participants listen to music in empathical style. The reason is that this style of listening activates the right hemisphere which is specialized in analyzing the emotional or activating component of  an emotion. The study is based on a 2x2x2-plan. There were 72 participants. The hypothesis was verified approximately. Contrary to expectation the difference in performance induced by style of listening is greater for female than male participants. We discuss and explain this result.

Key words: music, style of listening, hemispheric asymmetry, cognitive performance, gender differences

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Leichner
Institut für Psychologie der Technischen Universität Darmstadt
Hochschulstraße 1
D-64289 Darmstadt