RESEARCH ARTICLES

Enhancement of task performance aided by

music
B. Geethanjali1,4, K. Adalarasu2,*, M. Jagannath3 and R. Rajasekaran4
1
Department of Biomedical Engineering, SSN College of Engineering, Chennai 603 110, India
2
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, PSNA College of Engineering and Technology, Dindugul 624 622, India
3
School of Electronics Engineering, VIT University, Chennai 600 127, India
4
School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore 632 014, India

enhanced decision-making and problem-solving capabili-

Our study demonstrates the enhancement of task
performance aided by music. Task performance and ties16. Conversely, Knight and Rickard17 selected sedative
associated physiological changes were studied in parti- music for participants preparing for an oral presentation.
cipants who listened to music (Indian classical Their study concluded that blood pressure and heart rate
instrument or Indo jazz). Their mood and their per- were reduced significantly when preparing with sedative
ceived emotions were evaluated using positive and music as compared to participants who prepared without
negative affect schedule and self assessment manikin music (in silence).
scales, and their pulse rate was measured. Visual Go Most earlier work was oriented to the study of task per-
and No-go trials were given as task stimuli and task formance of the western population, who are naturally
performance was measured. Changes in the mean inclined to Western music. However, this may not hold
pulse rate were significantly low (P < 0.05) during for Indian population owing to differences in music
Indo jazz. We conclude that Indian classical instru-
cultures. Indian music with which we are familiar may
ment and Indo jazz induced positive effects and
enhanced task performance. induce better stimuli as music has a potential to change
moods. Further, Indian music has been studied for thera-
peutic application 18,19. Our study focuses on two Indian
Keywords: Music, pulse rate, reaction time, task per- ragas played on different types of musical instruments –
formance. Indian classical instrument and Indo jazz – and their
effects were studied with regard to pulse rate and task
LISTENING to music is habitual for many people while do- performance enhancement. Go and No-go trials of quick
ing a variety of tasks. Listening to the right type of music reaction response to task setting were also adopted. Based
can enhance task performance. Music can improve read- on previous findings we hypothesize that listener’s per-
ing skills and mathematical abilities, thereby facilitating ception also plays an important factor in inducing
learning1. There is a significant relation between certain changes in physiological variable (pulse rate) and task
types of music and learning2. Classical music or instru- performance, in addition to the type of instruments
mental tracks can improve cognitive performance3 and played. Our study is somewhat unique as earlier studies
listening to classical music improves learning compared focused on using Indian music for therapy, while we used
to other types of music4. Listening to music is an inex- self-assessment manikin (SAM)20 scale to measure
pensive way to improve cognitive abilities in the elderly5 valence and arousal. Positive and negative affect schedule
affecting their arousal and mood. Listener’s enjoyment (PANAS)21,22 is used to measure the participant’s mood
has a major influence on cognitive performance6. associated with selected music listening.
Music can improve the moods of listeners. Selecting
the right type of music based on one’s preference will
yield a better task performance. Mozart’s music enhances Methods and materials
visuospatial abilities2,7. Music evokes a pleasant mood
and increases the arousal level8 which results in an in- Twenty participants (12 males and 8 females) were
crease in creative problem-solving and task performance. selected for this study. They had an interest in listening to
Listener’s music perception is also reflected in their Indian music while studying but did not have any formal
mood. Music can induce and sustain a positive effect training in music. Their average age was 20 years
(mood) state while performing a task9. Listening to music (SD = 0.4 years) and average body weight was 68 kg
can modify one’s mood10 influencing their cognitive per- (SD = 5.5 kg). All participants were right-handed with no
formance and creativity11–14. Isen15 demonstrated a posi- auditory impairment. A mini mental test (MMT)23 was
tive effect (mood) while listening to music, which conducted on them before starting the experimental pro-
tocol to check whether they were competent for the test.
*For correspondence. (e-mail: adalarasu@psnacet.edu.in) Participants who scored above 24 out of 30 in MMT were
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 RESEARCH ARTICLES
selected for recording. The entire experiment was con- was constantly measured using a multi-parameter monitor
ducted in the morning in a soundproof room, where par- (Star Plus L&T Ltd make was used).
ticipants sat on comfortable chairs. The study was carried
out in accordance with the Institutional Ethics Committee
Music stimuli
for Human Volunteer Research and all volunteers had
given concurrence to participate.
The Indian classical instrument and jazz were recorded
and played as only the digital audio has the sampling rate
Musical stimuli selection of 44,100 Hz per second and the sampling resolution
of 16 bit. The dBFS (decibels relative to full scale)
The participants were asked to choose their musical stim- measured decibel amplitude levels in the music that was
uli based on their liking. They were presented with four being played. Zero dBFS represented the highest possible
sets of Indian musical stimuli (Indian classical instrument value and the lowest possible value for 16 bit ADC was
(Malahari), Indo jazz (Kapi), Nat Bhairav and Dhar- –96 dBFS. The power spectra for the music played were
mavathi). Ten out of 20 participants preferred Malahari plotted using Hanning window with the window size
and others preferred Kapi. Hence, only these two ragas of 1024 using NI LabVIEW 14 software tool (Figures 1
were considered for analysis. In order to assess their and 2).
mood before and after listening to the music, the partici-
pants were asked to rate the current mood using
Statistical analysis
PANAS21,22. To measure the valence and arousal of the
chosen music, SAM20 scale was used after listening to the
The data extracted (pulse rate, omission error for Go
music (Appendix A).
trials, commission error for No-go trials and reaction time
for Go trials) were not normally distributed. Listening to
Task stimuli Indian classical instrument, jazz music and without music
was considered independent variables. The pulse rate,
The task stimuli, visual Go and No-go trials, were omission error for Go trials, commission error for No-go
selected using Psytask from Mistar Ltd. The task con- trials, reaction time for Go trials, decibel level, PANAS
sisted of small coloured squares appearing either at the and SAM scores of the played music were all considered
top or bottom edge and it was presented for a duration of as dependent variables. The groups (Indian classical In-
100 ms with 1000 ms inter-stimulus interval in a pair. strument, jazz music and without music) were compared
The stimuli was presented in pairs corresponding to the using Kruskal-Wallis H test, a non-parametric substitute
trials. Two different pairs of stimuli, top-top pair for one-way ANOVA. Mann-Whitney U Post Hoc test
(‘Go trial’) and Top-Bottom pair (‘No-go trial’) were was also performed to find out the statistically significant
offered. The participants had to press the right arrow key difference between two specific groups. The significant
on the computer keyboard as soon as the task stimuli difference within the group for Indian classical instru-
were presented. Trials were presented in random order ment and jazz was measured using Friedman test, which
with 50% probability. The interval between trials was is a non-parametric alternative to the one-way ANOVA
1500 ms, the parameters of the performance were calcu- with repeated measures and Wilcoxon signed-rank Post
lated for Go and No-go conditions24. The task perform- Hoc test was performed, to find out the statistically sig-
ance was measured by finding the error of commission nificant difference between two related groups. The alpha
for visual Go and No-go trials (failure to withhold the value was set at 0.05; asymmetric signed (two-tailed)
response), error of omission (failure to respond to Go tri- values were noted. Analyses were conducted using IBM
als), and reaction times for various experimental condi- SPSS statistics for Windows (version 20.0, Armonk, NY:
tions being recorded to build the database for evaluating IBM Corporation).
the participants’ task performance. The task was per-
formed with selected music (jazz and Indian classical
instrumental) and in silence (without music). Table 1. The experimental protocol of our study

Condition Duration (min)

Experimental protocol
Baseline 2
Listening to the chosen music (Task 1) 3
The participants were instructed to remain relaxed during Rest 1 (silence) 2
the entire protocol (Table 1). The pulse rate was recorded Task with listening to chosen music (Task 2) 3
for three consecutive time intervals for each task and rest Rest 2 (silence) 2
conditions, and the average values of these consecutive Task with no music (Task 3) 3
Rest 3 (silence) 2
time intervals were considered for analysis. The pulse

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RESEARCH ARTICLES

Figure 1. Power spectrum of the played Indian classical instrument. The highest average root mean square level was
–8.38 dBFS/maximum peak levels at 0 dBFS.

Figure 2. Power spectrum of the played jazz music. The highest average root mean square level was –19.84 dBFS/maximum peak level
at 0 dBFS.

scoring for SAM scale (valence/arousal) was compared

between subjects who listened to Indian classical instru-
ment and jazz.

Jazz music

The pulse rate was significantly different (P < 0.05) and

low while listening to jazz (Task 1) compared to Rest 1
condition (silence) (Figure 3). This change was noted
only while listening to music stimuli. The pulse rate was
Figure 3. Mean  standard error values of the measured pulse rate same for the baseline (before the beginning of the ex-
while listening to jazz music: a, During Task 1 and Rest conditions.
b, During Tasks 1, 2 and 3 conditions.
periment) and the remaining rest periods (Rest 1, Rest 2
and Rest 3).
Figure 4 shows the variation in pulse rate for various
Results tasks. The pulse rates were similar while listening to jazz
music alone (Task 1) and while performing task with jazz
The participants listened to their choice of Indian classical music (Task 2). The pulse rates were significantly differ-
instrument or Indo jazz music. Task 1 represented listen- ent (P < 0.05) and low while listening to jazz music and
ing to music, Task 2 to listening to selected music and performing the task (Task 2) compared to the performing
performing visual Go and No-go trials (task stimuli) and the task in silence (Task 3).
Task 3 represented performing the task in silence. The The pulse rate was significantly high (P < 0.05) while
physiological response to the music played was estimated performing the task in silence compared to Rest 3 state
by measuring the pulse rate. Task performances were (Figure 4).
obtained by calculating the omission error and reaction
time for Go trials, and commission error for No-go trials.
The pulse rate was compared between all tasks and rest Indian classical instrument
conditions (silence). The task performances measured
were compared between Tasks 2 and 3. The rating of par- While listening to Indian classical instrument, the pulse
ticipants before and after listening to selected music was rate was the same compared to Rest 1 (no music). More-
compared for the current mood (PANAS). The subjective over, the pulse rate was similar for the baseline (before

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 RESEARCH ARTICLES
the beginning of the experiment) and the remaining rest Reaction time (for Go trials): The reaction time was
period (Rest 1, 2 and 3). calculated as soon as the participants pressed the key
Figure 5 shows that the mean pulse rate was signifi- (button) when the visual Go trials (task stimuli) were pre-
cantly low (P < 0.05) while performing the task with sented to them. It indicates how fast the participants
Indian music when compared to performing in silence. pressed the correct key.
The mean pulse rate was significantly high (P < 0.05)
when performing in silence compared to Rest 3 state.
The mean pulse rate was low (P < 0.05) and signifi-
cantly different while listening to music alone compared
to performing in silence. The mean pulse was signifi-
cantly low (P < 0.05) while performing with Indian clas-
sical instrument compared to performing in silence
(Figure 6).

Mean pulse rate between Indian classical instrument

and jazz

The pulse rates of the participants who listened to

selected music alone (Task 1) were similar for Indian
classical instrument and jazz (P = 0.891). The changes in
pulse rate were noticed when the participants performed Figure 4. Mean  standard error values of the measured pulse rate
while listening to jazz music during Tasks 2 and 3 and Rest conditions.
the task in silence (Task 3) compared to participants who
listened to selected music along with task (Task 2).

Task performance

Omission error for Go trials: The omission error was

calculated for visual Go trials. The participants had to
respond to the correct answer while listening to Indian
classical instrument/jazz music and in silence (no music).
The omission error for Go trials was significantly high
(P < 0.05) while performing the task in silence compared
to while listening to jazz music and Indian classical
instrument during the task performance (Table 2). The
same visual Go trials were performed in all conditions.
We found that participants who missed the target were
more, for completing the task in silence compared to Figure 5. Mean  standard error values of the measured pulse rate
while listening to Indian classical instrument during Tasks 2 and 3 and
those who listened to both forms of music. Rest conditions.

Commission error (No-go trials): The participants had

to withhold the response for the No-go stimuli. The
commission error for their response for No-go stimuli
while listening to jazz music and performing the task was
0.66% and it was 3.56% when performing in silence.
Moreover, the commission error for No-go trials while
listening to Indian classical instrument and performing the
task was 0.44% and it was 2.3% when performing in
silence. This indicates that while performing in silence, the
participant responded more to the No-go trials (Figure 7).
This specifies that the failure to withhold the response
to the incorrect answer was more while performing in
silence compared to performing the task while listening
to jazz music and Indian classical instrument. The task
Figure 6. Mean  standard error values of the measured pulse rate
performance degraded while performing the task in silence while listening to Indian classical instrument during Tasks 1, 2 and 3
compared to while listening to music as shown in Figure 7. conditions.

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Table 2. Omission error for Go trials for Task 2 (task performance with listening to chosen music) and
Task 3 (task performance with no music)

Omission error for Go trials

Statistical test Task 2 (Jazz) – Task 3 Task 2 (Indian classical) – Task 3

Wilcoxon signed rank Z = –2.191, P = 0.028 Z = –2.293, P = 0.022

Table 3. Reaction time for Go trials for Task 2 (task performance with listening to chosen music) and Task 3
(task performance with no music)

Reaction time for Go trials

Statistical test Task 2 (Jazz) – Task 3 Task 2 (Indian classical) – Task 3

Wilcoxon signed Rank Z = –2.701, P = 0.007 Z = –2.552, P = 0.011

Figure 7. Percentage of commission error for visual No go trials: a, With jazz music and without music. b, With
Indian classical instrument and without music (bars represents the standard error values).

Figure 8. a, Decibel level (dB) between Indian classical instrument and jazz music. b, Decibel levels (dB) of
the played music plotted against frequency.

The reaction time was significantly low (P < 0.05) for tions and in fact improved the task performances when
participants who were listening to jazz music and the compared to their performance in silence.
Indian classical instrument compared to those performing While listening to jazz and Indian classical instrument
the task in silence (Table 3). The jazz music and Indian during task performance, the omission error for Go trials
Classical instrument played did not impose any distrac- was the same ( 2(2) = 2.908, P = 0.088) and the percentage
1798 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 111, NO. 11, 10 DECEMBER 2016
 RESEARCH ARTICLES
of commission error for No-go trials was the same this fact, we focused on two ragas – Malahari and Kapi.
( 2(2) = 0.023, P = 0.880). The reaction time was similar The Malahari is known as the morning raga, whereas
for both forms of music (  2(2) = 0.116, P = 0.733). The Kapi raga can be played at any time25. SAM scale was
task performances were the same for both. used to measure the pleasure and arousal levels associ-
The sound level (decibels) at different frequencies of ated with listening to selected music. The participants’
dissimilar musical instrument used in Indian classical in- evaluation based on SAM scale and PANAS scoring for
strument and jazz was compared using independent sam- the Indian classical instrument and Indo jazz were
ples t-test. The sound levels of the Indian classical appraised as pleasant/excited and induced a positive
instrument and jazz music were significantly different effect (mood). Independently selected music was able to
(t (1020) = –2.626, P = 0.009) (Figure 8) which indicate induce and sustain positive mood states in listeners dur-
the sound levels (dB) of the music played at different fre- ing driving as well9,26. The subjective scoring indicates
quency bands. that the positive effect (mood) was retained before and
after listening to selected music when performing a task.
Pleasurable experience of listening to music causes
Assessing mood using PANAS
changes in autonomic responses27. These changes were
evident in our current study and were reflected in the
In our study, the positive affect scores before and after
pulse rate. Based on the results of a SAM questionnaire,
listening to Indian classical instrument were significantly
the scoring for pleasantness was high for both forms of
different (P < 0.05) (Figure 9 a). The mean positive affect
musical stimuli. The changes in pulse rate were signifi-
score was high after listening to Indian classical instru-
cantly low only during Indo jazz compared to silence. It
ment. Further, the positive affect scores before and after
was observed that the pulse rate continued to be the same
listening to jazz music was significantly different
(P < 0.05) (Figure 9 b). The mean positive affect score
was high after listening to jazz music. However, there is
no change in the mean negative affect scores before and
after listening to the selected music.

Valence and arousal for the selected stimulus

(SAM scale)

The valence and arousal levels were measured using

SAM scale. The valence ratings for those who listened to
music were on the scale of 1 to 5 where 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
stand for unpleasant, unsatisfied, neutral, pleased and
pleasant respectively. The arousal ratings for those who Figure 9. Positive affect score obtained before and after listening to
listened to music were on the scale of 1 to 5 where 1, 2, (a) Indian classical instrument and (b) jazz music.
3, 4 and 5 stand for calm, dull, neutral, wide awake and
excited respectively.
The participants were asked to rate their choice of se-
lected music using SAM scale for valence and arousal to
measure the perceived emotion. These ratings were used
to assess the pleasantness and unpleasantness (valence)
resulting from played music and the low to high arousal.
Indian classical instrument and jazz music resulted in a
pleasant or excited condition (Figure 10).

Discussion

We recruited two independent set of participants without

formal training in music. However, they used to listen to
Indian music while learning. In order to assess the mood
prior to experiment and after listening to the selected
form of music, the participants were asked to rate the
current mood using PANAS. The effect of each raga in
Figure 10. Mean  standard error values of the SAM scale for
Carnatic music as explored in the human mind, played in valence and arousal of the played Indian classical instrument and jazz
specific periods of the day on a particular scale. Based on music.

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Appendix A31

1. Indian Classical Instrument played by Arun Mohan (violin, sitar, tabla)

2. Indo Jazz played by Joe Harriott-John Mayer (saxophone, violin, trumpet, flute, piano, sitar, tambura, bass, drums, tabla)
3. Raga Nat Bhairav 1 played by Sultan Khan (sarangi) and Ustad Zakir Hussein (tabla)
4. Raga Dharmavathi played by Ganesh and kumaresh bros (violin)

Music stimuli – scale

Instruments
used in the Fast beat or
Music played Scale of played raga Pitch played music slow beat Impact

Indian Classical Malahari High Violin, Sitar, Slow This raga is known to be a morning
Instrument (Carnatic raga) Tabla raga which brings out a sense of
This ragam is an asymmetric scale. calmness and improves concentration.
Five notes in the ascending scale and six
notes in the descending scale.
Arohana: S R1 M1 P D1 S Avarohana:
S D1 P M1 G3 R1 S

Indo Jazz Kapi (Carnatic music). The equivalent Low Saxophone, Slow Capable of inducing moods of
raaga in Hindustani is Pilu. Violin, Trumpet, and commitment and reduces
Kapi is with an ascending pentatonic Flute, Piano, medium absent mindedness in the listeners.
scale and a descending scale with seven Sitar, Tambura, speeds
notes, but not in a descending order. Bass, Drums,
Arohana: S R2 M1 P N3 S Tabla
Avarohana: S N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S

while listening to Indian classical instrument and during To support this further, we conducted a parallel study
silence. This clearly indicates that the style, pitch and the to explore the brain activation of selected ragas on atten-
different instruments used to play the Indo jazz played a tion processing areas. The task performance is mostly
major role in reducing pulse rate, than subjective percep- associated with tedium and negative moods29, and listen-
tion. ing to preferential music30 would prevent boredom
Our study supports the findings that listening to music without compromising task performance as an external
is an inexpensive way to improve the cognitive abilities commotion. The current research finding provides cor-
in elderly adults5 and background music tend to improve roborative evidence to the observations in existing litera-
the cognitive performance when compared to no music ture29,30 ; the participants perceived both the selected
and white noise. When music evokes a pleasant mood and forms of music as pleasant, induced excitement and pro-
there is an increase in the arousal level, there is an duced positive mood, in turn these were reflected in the
increase in creative problem-solving and task perform- enhanced task performance.
ance8. The Indo jazz raga played was Kapi which is This study was conducted in the morning and the same
capable of inducing moods of commitment and improves protocol can be followed in extending the study to differ-
attention of the listener28. The played Indian classical ent periods of the day or night. In such cases, the impact
instrument raga was Malahari which brings out a sense of of music on the human mind may be interesting and the
calmness and improves concentration 28. Both Kapi and reflection in the task performance can be analysed.
Malahari ragas enhance task performance. The omission
error for Go trials and commission error for No-go trials
and the reaction time were significantly less while listen- Conclusion
ing to Kapi and Malahari during task performance com-
pared to task performance in silence. The missed targets Based on the participants’ perception, our study con-
and the failure to withhold the response to the incorrect cludes that, their chosen Indian classical instrument and
answer were more while performing in silence compared Indo jazz music induce a positive affect pleasure/
to task performance aided by music. excitement. Both forms of music played brought calm-
Moreover, the reaction time was significantly low for ness to listeners and this was reflected in the reduction of
jazz music and the Indian classical instrument, when the pulse rate, when compared to silence. The Indian
compared to task performance in silence. The participants classical instrument played was Malahari raga that im-
responded to the Go trials very quickly compared to their proved concentration whereas Indo jazz played was Kapi
response in silent condition. This clearly indicates that raga which improved attention; as revealed in the en-
jazz music and Indian classical instrument played no dis- hanced task performance. Therefore, this study supports
tractions and in fact enhanced task performance. the hypothesis that listener’s perception in addition to
1800 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 111, NO. 11, 10 DECEMBER 2016
 RESEARCH ARTICLES
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