How to Use Music to Boost Motivation, Mood & Improve Learning

In this episode, I describe how your brain and body are fundamentally wired to perceive and respond to music and how those responses can be leveraged to improve your mood, allow for processing sad emotions and enhance learning and performance. I explain the data showing how music can increase motivation for cognitive or physical work, what specific music has been shown to enhance cognitive performance, and whether silence or music is more effective in enhancing focus while studying. I also discuss how specific musical pieces can rapidly reduce anxiety, as well as certain prescription medications. I explain how listening to certain types of music can improve various health metrics (e.g., heart rate). Finally, I discuss how music helps to enhance neuroplasticity (rewiring of brain connections), thereby improving learning and memory. Whether you sing, play an instrument or enjoy listening to music, this episode provides numerous science-informed tools for using music to enhance productivity, mood, emotional states, and overall enjoyment of life.

Articles

• Effects of music on the cardiovascular system (Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
• Music versus midazolam during preoperative nerve block placements: a prospective randomized controlled study (Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine)
• 40-Hz Binaural beats enhance training to mitigate the attentional blink (Scientific Reports)

Other Resources

• How to Increase Motivation & Drive (Huberman Lab episode)
• Controlling Your Dopamine For Motivation, Focus & Satisfaction (Huberman Lab episode)
• Tools to Manage Dopamine and Improve Motivation & Drive (Huberman Lab episode)
• Brainwaves (App Store)
• Brainwaves (Google Play)
• Dr. Eddie Chang: The Science of Learning & Speaking Language (Huberman Lab episode)
• Dr. Erich Jarvis: The Neuroscience of Speech, Language & Music (Huberman Lab episode)
• Physiological Sigh
• Marconi Union – Weightless