The workings of the mind, music, mathematics (and the subconscious)

[supernova1203]

I've noticed that when I am studying (particularly mathematics) and with music, i study a lot better, where previously i would have reached a brick wall in trying to find an answer or a solution, i start listening to music and i find the solution very quickly, for instance i just finished doing my arithmetic/geometric sequences school work, i was listening to this particular song while i was studying



i did a bit of an experiment where at first i started studying without music, and although i figured out most of the stuff, this one particular sequence i couldn't figure out, so i started listening to that song and all of a sudden i figured it out, and the other night i was working on recursive and general formulas for sequences, something similar happened, i started listening to music while i was studying (this time it was trance) and i studied better, faster, smarter and efficiently I think i was in the zone, as some people call it, here's an article on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)

I also found this little quote which i hope sheds light on this:

"Music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting. ~Gottfried Leibniz"

My question is does music really help? Or are these just meaningless coincidences that keep happening?

In ancient indian teachings people refer to just being, or existing, and the key is to shutting down on the mind, to just be is to not think at all (all that background noise in our heads, the sound of our own thoughts, white noise etc) you just exist, iv found i experience this state when I am either running(training for sprinting) or sometimes when I am studying mathematics or most often when I am listening to music while i study mathematics.

Im worried that if i only listen to music while i study ill become dependent on it, and use it as a crutch, which is why iv avoided in the past to listen to music while i study, i just recently stumbled upon it

An ex told of a story that supposedly stephen king told, he referred to this as the guys in the basement phenomenon, where he or someone else would reach a plateau or hit a wall, or get stuck somewhere and if they sort of stop thinking about it their mind subconsciously would find a solution to it. Here is another good video, watch the last 20 seconds if you don't have the patience to watch all of it



your thoughts are appreciated in this matter :)

 

[Darken-Sol]

if i focus on something it becomes rigid, music gives me away to limit my focus. meditation (running) is like that too. i weed out all the symbols and useless junk clogging up my thoughts and am left with a clearer view of the thoughts themselves. a little space between thoughts is a good thing if you want to make sense of things.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I personally find that listening to music while studying can be helpful for some people, but it may not work for everyone. It seems like it helps you get into a state of "flow" where you are completely focused and productive. However, it's important to not rely on it too much and also find other ways to get into that state of mind. It's also important to make sure the music isn't too distracting or overwhelming, as that can actually hinder your studying. Overall, it's great that you have found something that works for you, but it's important to not become dependent on it and continue to find other methods to help you study effectively.