Analysis of cognitive abilities and physiological responses in humans listening to music

We analyzed the effects of different types of sound stimuli on cognitive task performance, such as writing, and on physiological parameters, specifically pulse rate, in office workers performing textbased tasks. We examined differences in the number of written words and grammatical errors in rewritten texts produced by young men under silence and while listening to different types of music.
Our findings show that musical preferences significantly affect cognitive activity and pulse rate. Men who preferred the band Rammstein wrote more words and made fewer errors when listening to their favorite music, likely due to increased motivation, emotional engagement, and the habit of working while listening to familiar music. When listening to fast-tempo music, participants made more errors, probably because pronounced rhythmic structures distracted attention and reduced concentration. Classical music improves memory and information processing speed, leading to a higher number of written words through more efficient brain function.
Pulse rate changes correspond to the type of music: fast-tempo and intense music increases pulse rate by 4–13 beats/min, while classical music decreases it by 5–13 beats/min, reflecting the physiological response to emotional state.