## Does Music Taste Indicate Intelligence: What Research Actually Shows
## Instrumental Music Fans Have Higher IQs
**Croatian researchers tested 467 high school students**. The results surprised everyone.
Students with higher intelligence scores preferred:
- **Instrumental music** (no vocals)
- Classical and jazz
- Ambient/chill electronica
- Film soundtracks
The correlation is real, but tiny. **Personality traits matter more than IQ**.
## Harvard Debunks the Mozart Effect
The myth: Listening to classical music makes you smarter.
**Harvard's reality check:**
- Original "Mozart effect" was just **2.1 IQ points**
- Effect lasted only 15 minutes
- **80% of adults** believe this myth despite no evidence
- Music lessons showed 2.7 IQ point gain after a full year (barely significant)
> "Music training had no effect on cognitive abilities of young children."
>
> **Samuel Mehr**, Harvard researcher
The truth: Smart people like instrumental music. Music doesn't make them smart.
## SAT Scores Reveal Genre Rankings
Actual data from student SAT scores:
1. **Techno**: Highest scores
2. Classic Rock
3. Country
4. Rock
5. Rap
6. R&B
7. Classical (middle, not top)
8. Alternative
9. Reggae
10. Pop
11. Hip Hop
12. Jazz
13. Gospel
14. Soca: Lowest scores
Plot twist: Classical isn't at the top. **Techno listeners scored highest**.
## Why Smart People Like Wordless Music
**Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa's theory:**
Intelligence evolved to handle novel stimuli. Instrumental music is more "novel" evolutionarily because humans sang before creating instruments.
The correlation factors:
- Novel preference: High IQ individuals seek new experiences
- Complexity processing: Instrumental music demands pattern recognition
- Less distraction: No lyrics means pure musical analysis
This mirrors how [introverts excel at deep work through sustained attention](/psychology/why-introverts-excel-at-deep-work-psychology-research-2025), preferring low-stimulation environments that enhance focus.
## The Bottom Line
**Music preference correlates weakly with IQ**. Correlation coefficient usually under 0.1.
What matters more:
- Personality traits (openness to experience)
- Education level
- Family income
- Age and gender
Learning an instrument: Only **10% IQ boost** according to some studies. However, [cognitive biases make us overestimate these effects](/psychology/your-brain-lies-to-you-cognitive-biases-2025) and create false correlations.
This connects to broader research on [how our brains shut down during cognitive overload](/psychology/cognitive-disengagement-multitasking-brain-shutdown), suggesting that music preferences may reflect cognitive processing styles rather than intelligence levels.
_Your playlist doesn't define your intelligence, but **instrumental music fans do score slightly higher**._
## Sources
1. [PsyPost - Instrumental Music and Intelligence Study](https://www.psypost.org/more-intelligent-individuals-are-more-likely-to-enjoy-instrumental-music-study-finds/) - Croatian research
2. [Harvard Gazette - Muting the Mozart Effect](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/12/muting-the-mozart-effect/) - Debunking myths
3. [SAGE Journals - Intelligence and Music Preferences](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0305735616650991) - Academic research
4. [PMC - Musical Preferences Five-Factor Model](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4846047/) - Personality correlation study
5. [Classic FM - Learning Instrument IQ Study](https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/learning-musical-instrument-increases-iq-10-percent/) - 10% increase claim
