Listening to music while riding

**haydes55** · 14th October 2012, 21:14

Listening to music uses the entire brain, not just the audio area. Linky

So probably not a good idea to listen to some tunes while riding.

**MrKiwi** · 14th October 2012, 21:59

That was an interesting read, still thinking about it...

**ducatilover** · 14th October 2012, 22:04

Originally Posted by haydes55

Listening to music uses the entire brain, not just the audio area. Linky

So probably not a good idea to listen to some tunes while riding.

That's okay, nobody on here actually rides

**haydes55** · 14th October 2012, 22:16

Originally Posted by ducatilover

That's okay, nobody on here actually rides

Too windy and messes up my hair, That's why I never drive with a window open either. Use the A/C

**SMOKEU** · 14th October 2012, 22:36

That must be why cagers seem to be so homicidal.

**ducatilover** · 14th October 2012, 23:11

Originally Posted by haydes55

Too windy and messes up my hair, That's why I never drive with a window open either. Use the A/C

Especially after looking bangin' hot with the new perm?

**PrincessBandit** · 15th October 2012, 05:30

Listening to classical music, eg. Mozart, supposedly has a huge effect on a baby's developing brain even while still in utero. There has been research done on that suggesting that it fires up neuron pathways within the brain making new connections and optimising brain development.

I find it annoying enough when I get a particular song stuck in my brain while riding and have to consciously move my thinking to "mirrors, instrument panel, road scan, peripheral..." in order to break the ensuing trace I could get into. Even in the car I've gone from constantly having music on to often not listening to any while I drive.

Music definitely takes me elsewhere and I'd rather that not happen while in control of a vehicle. I save it for when I'm stuck in the orchestra pit or ensconced in the comfort of home or at school.

**oneofsix** · 15th October 2012, 06:19

WTF? this is the first time REAL music has been used?! How the hell do these genii expect to understand how the brain processes music by using just sound. Music is sound but sound is not music.

Also means little in regard to vehicle control as they haven't got to how we process music whilst doing other stuff yet, neither mind complicated stuff like driving. At this rate you can expect someone to study that using real music and real driving in about awl lets say 3030, if man is still alive.

**Drew** · 15th October 2012, 07:14

It means absolutely zero until they can figure what sort of percentage of cognitive power, listening to the music uses.

Computer terms. How much processing power, does the music reduce the available?

Also, since the stimulating effect is well documented to increase cognitive efficiency, it's just as likely to have positive effect as negative.

But some fuckwit will probably take these early as fuck and not that understood results, and campaign to ban music in vehicles anyway.

**Scuba_Steve** · 15th October 2012, 07:30

Music you love & hate can distract you (if you let it) as you use processing power to listen to, or in a futile attempt to ignore the music. Other music has minimal effect as long as you don't try to listen, leave it as ambient sound.
That's all I ever used music on the bike for, is ambient sound. Sounded much better than wind as ambient.

**nathanwhite** · 15th October 2012, 07:31

I used to listen to music anytime I would be at 100kph. Then I started to work out that the type of music I listen to has a amplifying effect on my thrillseeker impulse. Which really was not what I wanted on the road, so it's stopped now.

**oneofsix** · 15th October 2012, 07:42

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

Music you love & hate can distract you (if you let it) as you use processing power to listen to, or in a futile attempt to ignore the music. Other music has minimal effect as long as you don't try to listen, leave it as ambient sound.
That's all I ever used music on the bike for, is ambient sound. Sounded much better than wind as ambient.

Easy listening music, the easy listen bit dependant on personal taste.

Originally Posted by nathanwhite

I used to listen to music anytime I would be at 100kph. Then I started to work out that the type of music I listen to has a amplifying effect on my thrillseeker impulse. Which really was not what I wanted on the road, so it's stopped now.

Relate to that. Exactly what happened the last time I tried. However if the selection is a bit more generic I can also accept it what be like the enhanced studying effect listening to music has.

Guess like most things it is going to affect individuals differently and whilst a study will show the general affect on most people it will also have individual differences in the data.

For me I tune out the music in the car whilst others are picky about it but I am the first to notice when it goes off station.

My concern is it is that glitch in the music, the missed track, the hiss where it shouldn't be etc that distracts my from what I should be doing and yet I will also admit it doesn't affect others.

**ducatilover** · 15th October 2012, 10:44

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

That's all I ever used music on the bike for, is ambient sound. Sounded much better than wind as ambient.

Yup.
White noise would be the ideal thing to listen to as it relaxes the brain. A relaxed mind is better prepared to concentrate and not be distracted.

As for processing power, the mind can only process one thing at once generally, so it is technically another distraction. Then again, the speed of which the brain can prioritise these tasks is ridiculously fast.
A proper test done in relation to driving would be cool, but hard to do as there are so many variables.

As humans we rely mainly on our sense of sight, then sound. So unless you have an HUD with MTV I doubt it'll make any tangible effect on reaction times, but the style of music can alter your mindset, so you might rape/kill/maim someone.

**bogan** · 15th October 2012, 11:05

Originally Posted by Drew

It means absolutely zero until they can figure what sort of percentage of cognitive power, listening to the music uses.

Computer terms. How much processing power, does the music reduce the available?

Also, since the stimulating effect is well documented to increase cognitive efficiency, it's just as likely to have positive effect as negative.

But some fuckwit will probably take these early as fuck and not that understood results, and campaign to ban music in vehicles anyway.

That was my thought too, it might just be stimulating those parts of the brain cos there is fuck all else to do in an MRI machine.

Originally Posted by nathanwhite

I used to listen to music anytime I would be at 100kph. Then I started to work out that the type of music I listen to has a amplifying effect on my thrillseeker impulse. Which really was not what I wanted on the road, so it's stopped now.

Same here, I find the symphony in twin, composition number 647 has a very bad effect on the right wrist. Especially in tunnels