Music, Auditory Stimulation & Cognition
Quick answer: A 2024 systematic review found that relationships among auditory stimulation, autonomic arousal and cognitive performance are mixed or insufficient in important respects.
What was reviewed
The review examined music, ambient noise, white noise and binaural beats alongside physiological measures such as cardiac, electrodermal and pupillometry outcomes.
Main caution
The authors concluded that evidence linking auditory stimulation, autonomic arousal and cognitive performance was mixed or insufficient, and that future work should study these relationships more directly.
Why this matters to buyers
Audio can still be enjoyable or useful as part of a routine, but scientific uncertainty should temper claims of guaranteed cognitive optimization.