When you listen to music, a part of your brain called the nucleus accumbens activates. This triggers the release of the «pleasure chemical» dopamine, that lives in a group of neurons in your brain called the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA). The amount of dopamine that gets released … are also largely dependent on the element of surprise.

… it was found that a person’s ability to recognize images, letters, and numbers was faster when … music was playing in the background compared to when there was no music. If you’re working on something that you have done many times before, even if it’s complicated, your performance can increase and errors become less likely when you listen to music you like.

There are a few types of music that have proven to be effective in establishing flow for most people. Classical or instrumental music has been shown to enhance mental performance more than music with lyrics.

Mikael Cho.