Assessment of music effect on concentration and attention among students of Azad University of medical sciences, Tehran unit

This randomized controlled trial was designed to assess impact of short time music listening on the attention and working memory performance. Forty medical students randomly assigned to music and control groups. This randomization was performed in a way to maintain an equal sexual distribution between the two groups to lower probable bias. Fifteen minutes of classical music (Piano sonata K576 by Mozart) played for volunteers in music group, while in control group 15 minutes of rest allowed before performing tests. Wechsler memory scale and reverse digit count test were performed by both groups. The results were compared between two groups and analyzed by statistical methods. Corrected WMS score in music group was 113.97 so it was higher than control group witch was 107.22 (p<0.01). Resulted memory quotient (MQ) in music group was 131.75 and it was higher than control group which was 116.6 (p<0.01). Performing time of reverse digit count test (from 100 to 1 by interval of 7) in music group was 41.50 sec and it was lower than 51.0 sec of control group but it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Reverse digit count test errors in music group was 0.45 and was lower than 1.20 of control group and it was statistically significant (p<0.05). Music listening improved attention and memory performance in music group comparing to control group.