Listening to classical music while studying improves memory.

Is it true that listening to classical music while studying improves memory?

Partly. Evidence is mixed and only partial: one small study reports classical background music improved lexical decision accuracy, while other small studies found no significant effect of classical music on listening or reading comprehension, and a pilot fMRI study explicitly did not establish a memory benefit.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 4 sources for, 3 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Music-related memory. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music-related_memory

Cara, B. (2000). The Effects of Classical Music on Listening Comprehension.. eric.ed.gov. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED438589

Classical Music, Educational Learning, and Slow Wave Sleep: A Targeted Memory Reactivation Experiment - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107206

GJ, M., YH, C., SG, M., JC, W., HP, M., JC, O., & KY, C. (2025). Cognitive enhancement through music therapy: meta-analytic evidence across clinical population.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1735470

The influence of music on lexical decision-making in adolescents. (2024). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.59720/23-092

The Effect of Listening To Slow-Tempo Classical Music on Reading Comprehension in Students. (2025). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.61994/jpss.v2i4.879

Y, T. (2026). Preferred J-pop music and visual memory retrieval: an exploratory pilot fMRI study.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1775292