The Effects of Lyric and Instrumental Pop Music on Selective Attention: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Human information processing can be disrupted through auditory channels, in a form of noise, including background sounds such as music. Research on the effects of lyrical versus non-lyrical music in learning and work has produced mixed findings. The present study investigates whether reaction time in selective attention differs between individuals exposed to pop music with lyrics and those exposed to its instrumental version. This study adopted a quantitative experimental design. The stimulus consisted of the same pop song presented in two versions: with lyrics and instrumental (without lyrics). Participants were 60 university students aged 18–24 years, both male and female, with no reported hearing impairments or visual disorders such as color blindness. Data were analyzed using Independent Samples T-Test to compare the two groups. The findings revealed a significant difference: participants who listened to instrumental music exhibited faster reaction times, indicating stronger sustained attention (t (58) = 2.673, p < 0.05). These results suggest that instrumental music is more suitable for individuals seeking to maintain focus while studying or working. This finding is useful for those who aim to create a more conducive learning or working environment by using instrumental music to minimize distractions and support individuals’ cognitive performance.