Effect of Background Music on Attentional Control in Older and Young Adults.

Healthy aging may be accompanied by cognitive decline that includes diminished attentional control, an executive function that allows us to focus our attention while inhibiting distractors. Previous studies have demonstrated that background music can enhance some executive functions in both young and older adults. According to the , the beneficial influence of background music on cognitive performance would be related to its ability to increase the arousal level of the listeners and to improve their mood.