Abstract

Introduction: Distractions such as the use of mobile phones or listening to music while driving can prove to be fatal. Reaction time (RT) is the time interval between the application of a stimulus and the appearance of appropriate voluntary response by an individual; it can be used to assess the individual\'s efficacy to respond to any stimulus in daily life. Choice of music and its influence on the central nervous system (CNS) and hence RT is linked to many neurophysiological reactions. Objectives: The present study was aimed to determine the effect of soft and hard rock music; played at low and high volumes on auditory reaction time in 52 young adult males. The auditory stimulation used was a buzzer simulating honking. Thus this study may help to understand if some types of music should be avoided or preferred while driving. Materials and methods: A total of 52 students from medical college-aged between 18 to 25 years; body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 to 25 kg/m2 participated in the study. Instrumental soft and hard rock music was delivered through two speakers. The low volume of 60 dB and a high volume of 80 dB were gauged by the sound level meter. Auditory reaction time (ART) was recorded with an auditory stimulus delivered from digital reaction time apparatus. After a practice session for an acquaintance, a baseline recording of auditory reaction time without music was recorded. This was followed by ART recording with soft music with low and high volumes and hard rock music with low and high volumes. The difference in mean ART of each music setting was then compared with mean baseline ART using a paired t-test. Result: The mean ART for sound stimulus for soft music at low volume showed improvement while it showed the slower response for high volume; though the difference in mean was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Faster ART was observed for hard rock music for both low and high volume which was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The varied outcomes suggest a differing preference of type of music and volume that might have affected the arousal and alertness of the participants and hence the reaction time. This is a significant deduction which brings out the importance to conduct similar studies incorporating the taste, preferences of music.

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