The Effect of Quran as a Stimulus in Enhancing Working Memory and Mood
Abstract
The aim of this experimental study was to determine the impact of listening to Quran on working memory and mood disturbance. While previous studies implemented neuroimaging to assess mood, the present study used self-reported subjective feelings in assessing mood disturbance. It also aimed to successfully posit Quran as a stimulus that induced positive emotions and improved cognitive functioning. Hence, the study hypothesized that listening to Quran would lower mood disturbance and enhance working memory performance among participants. Participants were 50 Maldivian university students randomly assigned to an experimental group (listened to Quran recitation) and control group (did not listen to Quran). A pre-test-post-test design was administered to obtain difference in mood disturbance. Participants performed a Letter-Number Sequencing task to determine the effect of Quran on working memory. Results showed a significant increase in working memory performance among participants in the experimental group compared to participants in the control groups. Additionally, post-test mood disturbance was significantly lower among participants in the experimental group compared to participants in the control group. Thus, it was concluded that exposure to Quran enhanced working memory and reduced mood disturbances among university students as predicted in the study. Although the study lacked external validity due to the nature of the research design, the findings could be successfully applied in the educational and counselling fields.
Keywords: Quran, working memory, mood disturbance
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