Effects of Background Music on Attentional Networks of Children With and Without Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Case Control Experimental Study

BACKGROUND

To sustain performance during a task that requires attention may be a challenge for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which strongly influences motivation for tasks and has been connected to the level of arousal.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the effect of musical stimulus on attentional performance in children with ADHD and typically developing children.

METHODS

A total of 76 boys (34 with ADHD and 42 typically developing) performed the Attention Network Test (ANT) for children under 2 experimental conditions (with and without music). Four attentional measures were extracted from the ANT. We tested the effect of the experimental condition and its interaction with the group using repeated measures ANOVA.

RESULTS

We found no significant main effects or interactions for the reaction times of the alerting, orienting, and conflict attentional networks of the ANT (all P>.05). Regarding ANT errors, we found a significant main effect for music, with a moderate effect size (F1,72=9.83; P=.03; ηp2=0.06) but the condition×group interaction was not significant (F1,72=1.79; P=.18). Participants made fewer errors when listening to music compared to the control condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Music seems not to interfere in the attentional network in children and adolescents. Perhaps background music affects motivation. Future studies will be needed to validate this.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ReBEC.gov U1111-12589039; https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8s22sh8.

Does Music Listening Affect Attention? A Literature Review

This review focused on knowledge about the effects of music on attention. The revision was performed in compliance with the PRISMA protocol, being registered at Prospero under number CRD42020172933. Across reviewed studies, the music improved performance on attention tasks, either by listening or using it within a procedure to modulate mood and motivation. It is still difficult to generalize and compare the results because of methodology and study design diversity. Further studies are needed to increase knowledge about the effect of music effect, especially to evaluate if it might have any potential clinical use.