Language gets processed almost automatically. Hear a word and part of your mind is already handling it, whether you asked it to or not. While you read, that puts two streams of words in the same space.
The short answer
For reading, writing and memorizing, lyrics get in the way a little, and they do it in exactly the tasks that use words. A background without words works better for those.
What the 2023 study found
In a study in the Journal of Cognition, Souza and Barbosa had university students complete tasks with different kinds of background sound. With songs with lyrics, reading comprehension and memory for words and images dropped. The effects were small but consistent, and arithmetic was barely affected. The task that suffered was the one made of the same material as the distraction, which is words.
What to play instead
If silence feels too empty and songs pull you in, a steady sound gives you a background with no words to follow. Brown noise is deep and soft, pink noise is smoother and more balanced, white noise is brighter and covers chatter, and rain sounds the most natural. Use one for a whole study session before you decide, and if you don’t know where to start, here is how to find your noise color.
When your playlist is fine
It depends on the task. For reading, writing, flashcards and memorizing, use a wordless background. For math practice, organizing files, design or admin, a playlist causes less trouble, and breaks are for whatever you like.
Headphones
With headphones, a steady sound can sit at a much lower volume and still cover the room. I use my Bose QuietComfort headphones with noise cancelling on, and a soft sound at low volume is enough.
Questions people ask
Is it better to study in silence or with music?
It depends on the task. For reading and memorizing, keep the background free of words. A steady sound like brown noise or rain works.
Is instrumental music OK for studying?
The point is having no words to follow. The more predictable and steady the background, the easier it is to forget.
What is the best background noise for reading?
The one you stop noticing. Brown or pink noise at a low volume is a good place to start.
