Can music improve your online game?
If you don’t like music then the answer is an obvious no. However, most people do, and when I listen to music I find it easier to lay down hands I should not be playing. I also think there is a semi-scientific explanation for this little quirk and will attempt to explain it. But before I begin, a disclaimer: I am not a doctor, psychologist, or scientist; although the majority of the theory deals with the brain and how it works. So take it with a grain of salt and judge for yourself if it holds water.
Ok, here we go
I need to start with some ground work. It is known that the brain is divided into two hemispheres. It is widely accepted that each hemisphere (left and right) predominantly handles specific functions/tasks, while completely controlling others like motor movement. For instance, the left hemisphere is responsible for all motor movements on the right side of the body and vice versa. Even our thought processes and skill sets are believed assigned in this manner, to a specific hemisphere or brain. These hemispheres have the ability to act independently of each other while simultaneously processing information. And our personalities are believed to be determined largely by the predominance of one brain over the other, or which one we use to process the information in our daily activities. A quick study of these brains and their corresponding functions will get us on our way and should be very revealing to a poker player. These are just a few:
Left brain
Functions
Uses logic
Detail oriented
Facts rule
Words and Language
Present and past
Math and science
Can comprehend
Knowing
Acknowledges
Order/pattern
Perception
Knows object name
Reality based
Forms strategies
Practical
Safe
Right brain
Functions
Uses feeling
"Big picture" oriented
Imagination rules
Symbols and images
Present and future
Philosophy and religion
Can "get it"
Believing
Appreciates
Spatial perception
Knows object function
Fantasy based
Presents possibilities
Impetuous
Risk taking
Analysis
Do you see what I see? First, that they're almost mirror opposites and second, that virtually all of the skills required of a solid poker player reside with the left side of the brain, while virtually all of the right brain functions should be stifled. Why? Because it is the right side of the brain that uses imagination and fantasy to get you to think that you can win with a statistically inferior hand, even if you know it’s inferior. Newbs usually don’t know or haven’t grasped the odds (left brain), so most of the time they are unconsciously defering their decision to the right brain which says “let’s gamble, go all in!”, or “I just have a feeling I’m gonna win this hand.” They haven’t learned that those impulses (right brain) of grandeur get poker players killed in the long run. It’s stimulating/pleasing to the right brain to imagine you hitting that river card you need, or doubling up every hand, or just putting your chips in unnecessary risk. Meanwhile, the left brain knows the odds and knows better. In fact, when you are playing poker you are probably using your left brain 90+% of the time if not all of it, because any risk that a good player does take must pass inspection form the left brain first to be approved.
Dilemma
Unfortunately, therein lies the problem with poker. It requires you to basically shut down your right brain for extended periods of time. Something it doesn’t naturally want to do, for it is generally accepted that both sides want to be stimulated, and in a relative state of equilibrium, which produces pleasure. For example, have you ever wondered why a song you like sounds better when you are driving your car? Because the driving i.e. processing speed, traffic, keeping it between the lines, has your rule following left brain extremely heightened, and your right brain gets sort of jealous for stimuli. So when the song you like comes on the radio the right side gets to join in on the fun of being stimulated. Both sides reach a heightened state and pleasure is produced, the desired state the body likes to be in. (Side note: This is also why I think playing video games are addicting, because you’re stimulating your creative and rule following sides at once.)
Solution
So how do we deal with the problem of our creative sides desiring stimuli during extended poker sessions? Because sure enough, if you deprive your right brain long enough it will say something like “let me play a hand!” I imagine a pro might say something like “starve that sucker to death, don’t feed it or encourage it, and thus build up a tolerance,” and that might be the way to go. But realistically the only alternative to such an extreme measure is to supplement it and keep it occupied so that it doesn’t complain. And since sound/music doesn’t require you to take your eyes off the screen and your opponents moves, it is by default the best answer.
I’m sure some people will surely argue that music just distracts them, and for them that’s true (not all brains work the exact same way), but I find it no more distracting to my game than a song is to my driving skills, it just makes the experience more enjoyable and the time fly. It is also my contention that when both brains are occupied with tasks, both seem to work better. Why? Because of the pleasure (equilibrium) it creates. Neither side is asking for attention and both are focused on their tasks at hand, and the end product is a better time had while increasing productivity. Because of the fun you wind up having you’re heightened brain actually sustains less overall brain fatigue. In other words, it wants to be working that way.
I used to be a Scrabble player and stumbled upon this technique when I tried memorizing words while listening to music on the headphones, and found that it doubled (at least) the amount of words I could digest in one sitting, and it was easier doing it too. And then I read in a Scrabble book that World Champion Brian Cappelletto, who achieved the highest Scrabble rank ever, listened to the radio when he would memorize words, and he memorized all of them. I was like, “how bout that,” and ever since then I’ve had suspicions about the link between music and heightened brain activity.
For anybody interested in this kind of stuff, this page
here has a good explanation of the left/right brain differences, while their home page seems to be dealing HEAVILY with the audio link side of things. Dan Eden’s article
here is where I got the list of brain functions.
Some closing random thoughts: Please remember that this is strictly referring to online play, as there are definite sound disadvantages in live play if you have headphones on. Also, if you’re gonna be listening to music, obviously it should be something you like. I did not mean to give the impression that I listen to music all the time when I play or that anybody else should do the same. But rather that it does help when I do listen, especially in the area of hand selection. And again, this stuff isn’t the gospel. Just my ideas on why it seems to help me play better. Sorry for making this damn thing so long. And most importantly, all comments are welcome, I’m curious to know what ya’ll think and if you listen too and how it works for you.
Can music improve your online game? 
