Listening to Music and Coffee Can Improve Cognitive Abilities, NYU Study Finds
Scientists from the Tandon Engineering School of New York University (NYU Tandon) have discovered that listening to music and the consumption of coffee can enhance a person’s cognitive abilities, including concentration and memory. This breakthrough was made possible through the utilization of Mindwatch, an innovative brain monitoring technology developed by the NYU Tandon.
Mindwatch, which allows for the analysis of brain activity based on data collected from wearable devices, measures electrodermic activity (Ed) – changes associated with emotional stress, including sweating under stress.
In the course of the research, participants were equipped with special bracelets and dressings for brain monitoring while performing cognitive tests involving memory tasks. In addition, they engaged in activities such as listening to music, consuming coffee, and sniffing perfume. The Mindwatch algorithm detected a significant increase in the “beta-band” brain waves during these stimulations, which is considered an indicator of peak cognitive activity. The findings of this study can be found in the research article.
To further investigate the effects of music and coffee on memory, scientists conducted experiments using three types of music: energetic and relaxing songs that were familiar to the participants, as well as new music generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to match the participants’ musical preferences. The results revealed that familiar, energetic music produced the most significant improvements in cognitive performance.
The study also tested the impact of perfume on cognitive abilities, but it displayed the lowest increase in performance among all the stimulations. This suggests the need for further research in this area.
The ultimate objective of the mindwatch technology is to develop a real-time brain activity tracking system that can identify moments of heightened tension or decreased concentration. The NYU Tandon research team hopes that this technology will enable individuals to effectively manage their cognitive functions.