నైరూప్య

Effect of Music on Visual and Auditory Reaction Time: A Comparative Study.

Prasad BK

Music is now an important aspect of living. Various studies examined the effects background music on different aspects of cognitive processing. The present study examined the effects of type of background music on speed of cognitive-motor performance using visual reaction time for different colors and auditory reaction time for different pitch sounds. To note the effect of background music on Visual and Auditory Reaction Time (VRT & ART). 30 subjects aged between 20-40yr having normal vision and hearing ability participated in the study. VRT and ART was recorded using Reaction time apparatus in a quiet room. Each type of stimulus was given 10 times randomly and the average reaction time for each type of stimulus was considered. Initially the recording was done without music and later with music in the background. Music played were rock of a bollywood song and instrumental. Paired t test applied showed statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) in VRT for yellow and green with music in the background either heavy metal or instrumental.. Significant improvement (p<0.05) in ART was noted to low and medium pitch sound with music in background. VRT improves with background music. ART for medium pitch sound improve with background music.