This article was taken from the April 2014 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Can listening to music boost your productivity? If the tunes are optimised with the help of neuroscientists, you can increase your attention span up to four-fold, according to LA-based musician Will Henshall. The one-time pop star -- his band Londonbeat was signed to Dave Stewart's Anxious Records -- launched focus@will in 2012 to stream instrumentals that, according to UCLA research, can maximise attention. "Every track is remixed, edited and remastered to optimise it for focus," says Henshall. "It has to be fully instrumental, no human voices -- not even in a language you don't understand."
The key is curated playlists: "Your subconscious brain is sensitive to tiny changes in sounds around you," explains Henshall, so each track, ranging from acoustic to upbeat electronica, is original and licensed from composers and small labels.
The firm's next step is to develop audio channels specifically to help users with ADHD. Meanwhile, Silicon Valley engineers are tuning in -- including a team from a well-known space company.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
