Exploring Music Tempo’s Effect on Reaction Time: A Study on High-School-Aged Teenagers

One of the leading and most preventable causes of death in American teenagers is motor vehicle-related fatalities. The present study investigates how music tempo affected reaction time in 14 to 18-year-olds to explore its potential effects on driving behavior. Participants (n = 36) performed a series of visual reaction-time tests without music and while listening to three songs at different tempos in a randomized order. Although participants’ reaction times were slightly slower while listening to fast-tempo music, the findings showed no significant relationship between visual reaction time and music tempo. Results suggest that the tempo of in-car music may not significantly affect teenage driving behavior, specifically reaction time; however, more research is needed to better understand its impact.