In a study recently published in Scientific Reports, researchers from the University of Tsukuba revealed that so-called groove music, significantly increased measures of executive function and associated brain activity in participants who were familiar with the music.

Music that triggers the sensation the researchers call “groove” elicits feelings of pleasure as well as enhance behavioral arousal levels. Exercise, which has similar positive effects, was already known to enhance executive function. Accordingly, it was suspected that there would be a similar effect associated with listening to groove music. However, no studies had examined the effect of groove music on executive function or brain activity in regions associated with executive function, such as the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (or L-DLPFC).

To fill this knowledge-gap, the researchers used brain imaging to evaluate corresponding changes in executive function and measured individual psychological responses to groove music. This involved functional near-infrared spectroscopy with a color-word matching task to examine inhibitory executive function before and after listening to music. They also conducted a survey about the subjective experience of listening to the groove music.

The researchers found that groove rhythm enhanced executive function and activity in the L-DLPFC only in participants who reported that the music elicited a strong “groove sensation” and the sensation of being clear-headed. In fact, these psychological responses to listening to groove rhythm predicted whether changes in executive function and L-DLPFC activity would occur.

These findings indicate that individual differences in psychological response to groove music determine the corresponding effects on executive function. As such, the effects of groove rhythm on human cognitive performance seem to be influenced by familiarity as well as beat processing ability,

Strategies for enhancing executive function have a wide range of potential applications, ranging from preventing dementia in elderly people to helping employees enhance their performance.

Beyond the positive effects of groove music on executive function, benefits may include those associated with positive emotions and rhythmic movements. This could help to explain the many positive benefits of dancing and exercise conducted while listening to music.

However, further research is needed to develop applications based on these new findings.

- SCIENTIFIC REPORT, May 5, 2022, “Groove rhythm stimulates prefrontal cortex function in groove enjoyers,” by Takemune Fukuie, et al. © 2022 Springer Nature Limited. All rights reserved.