OK… so there are multiple input streams into the main consciousness of the mind. Somehow there is a kind of processing limit. And each of our senses provides inputs into our mind. The forming of concepts into handleable mental chunks at the same moment that you’re following the melodies and rhythms of the music… processing the lyrics and thoughts in it.

And yet, it is also factored by the complexity and nature of the thoughts in both the music and the concepts. More complex thoughts taking more effort to process… louder music somehow limiting the ability to process…

Actually it’s not the volume of the music that detracts from your concentration… it’s merely the thought formation… if the music is mostly words… or if the music inspires powerful thoughts/concepts for you then your mind becomes pre-occupied with those thoughts if you let yourself focus on them.

You either have to de-focus the music and focus on the concepts you are thinking about, or suffer from distraction. Perhaps the volume affect is one of focus, not processing ability. In other words, the louder the music, or generally the stronger the stimuli, the harder it is to maintain an alternative focus. That seems right, because it would be a survival strategy…

Hmm…