The Effect of Music on Cognitive Control among Media Multitaskers

Abstract

The objective was to understand the performance differences of heavy and light media multitaskers. Further, the differences across media multitasking groups when the subjects are performing a cognitive task in the presence of music were studied to understand the role of music in cognitive performance in terms of cognitive control. A sample of 300 girl students from the Government schools of Chandigarh in the age range of 14-18 years (mean age= 15.7 years) was taken for the purpose. The media multitasking questionnaire (Ophir et al., 2009) and the Stroop task (Stroop, 1935) were used. The two media multitasking groups, viz., heavy and light media multitaskers, significantly differed from each other. Media multitasking and cognitive control were found to be linked and the role of music indicated facilitating trend for performance. Studies conclude high levels of media multitasking result in poor cognitive performance in terms of cognitive control and music plays a facilitative role for such media multitasker’s cognitive control.