Some schools are pumping music, noises and fragrances into the classroom to see if it improves exam results – could it work? A growing body of research suggests that smells and sounds can have an impact on learning, performance and creativity.
While the evidence actually suggests it's a stretch to say classical music boosts brainpower, researchers do think pleasant sounds before a task can sometimes lift your mood and help you perform well, says Perham, who has done his own studies on the phenomenon.