Specific Rhythm Auditory Stimulation for Attention: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Despite the prevalence of music listening among individuals performing tasks that require sustained attention, the impact of various components of rhythmic auditory stimulation on concentration remains inconclusive. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the efficacy of a novel specific rhythmic auditory stimulation (SAS) on attentional performance, including vigilance, orientation, and executive control, in healthy adults in comparison with other auditory stimulation and silence conditions.

This block-randomized study included 27 male and 27 female participants with a mean age of 31.52 years. Participants underwent the Attention Network Test (ANT) and the Frankfurt Attention Inventory (FAIR) under three auditory stimulation conditions: SAS, traditional rhythmic auditory stimulation (TAS), and a control condition of silence (CON). To assess potential sex differences in attentional abilities in response to auditory stimuli, nine participants were grouped into each sex-specific condition. All data collected were subjected to statistical analysis.

The results showed that SAS resulted in significantly different mean reaction times, alerting and orienting effects on the ANT and P scores, and the percentage of Q and C scores on the FAIR test compared to TAS and CON (p < 0.05). However, no differences were found between males and females for any of the variables of the ANT and FAIR test under the same auditory stimulus conditions.

It is suggested that the new auditory stimuli used in this study may be more effective in improving attention than TAS or CON in healthy adults, irrespective of sex.