Parking demands concentration, hearing, calm and skill, a lot of skill. But surely you are not the only one who turns down the radio volume (even if your favorite song is playing) when you start to reverse. You might think it is a pointless habit or even something you do because you have seen others do it and that it has no logic or basis. You are wrong. This reaction answers to a cognitive survival mechanism: the prefrontal cortex, the “conductor” of our brain, is forced to prioritize resources when it faces maneuvers it considers complex (and indeed, parking is one).
What happens to our brain?
Victoria Bayón, an expert in neuro-coaching, reveals that when we park, our brain uses something called “selective attention”, and by lowering the music and other stimuli, we focus better on precision and avoid scrapes or accidents.
So no, you are not weird for turning the music down, you just need to focus your attention on the wheel.
The prefrontal cortex: the command center
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for planning, reasoning and decision-making in our brain. When we drive on a clear road, the automatic driving system we all develop with practice occupies low-consumption neural networks. But when we face a tight space or a parking spot, the demand for spatial calculation skyrockets. The brain can no longer delegate tasks and demands extra resources.
Music vs. maneuver
Listening to a song activates auditory and emotional regions; if we also hum the lyrics, we involve memory and language. That combo competes directly with the areas in charge of processing the distance to the curb or the steering wheel turn. Turning down the volume to park cuts the auditory distraction at the root and returns full capacity to the main task.
Scientific evidence that supports the gesture
Other research by Professor Hal Pashler of the University of California showed that two tasks requiring conscious control cannot be performed at the same time without performance losses. When the second task (in this case, listening to music) is maintained, the first suffers millisecond delays that, when parking, make the difference between scraping another car or stopping in time.
Bayón reminds us that the brain works like a network with limited bandwidth. Reducing external stimuli during critical maneuvers not only improves precision but also decreases accumulated mental fatigue.
Greater safety and less stress
The parking maneuver involves continuous evaluation of angles, depth and speed. The momentary silence facilitates finer micro-adjustments, lowers heart rate and reduces the release of cortisol, the stress hormone.
By minimizing all possible distractions, the brain consolidates correct movement patterns sooner. This explains why novice drivers progress more when they practice without blaring music or intense conversations on board.
We do not want to demonize music while driving. We love a good road and listening to our favourite song (and how great “Safaera” by Bad Bunny sounds when you are on the highway and sing it at the top of your lungs). But it is indeed convenient to know when to stop that stimulus, even if it is your favourite song. Before starting the first maneuver, take a deep breath, turn the volume knob and let your brain do its job. We are sure your bumper (and those of the nearby vehicles) will thank us.
Tips to park like a pro
- Turn down the volume before maneuvering
- Your brain needs full focus. Lowering the music helps reduce competing sensory input and sharpens spatial awareness.
- Pause conversations
- Even casual chat can overload your cognitive circuits during a tricky maneuver.
- Take a deep breath before starting
- A short pause helps your brain shift gears into full attention mode.
- Avoid multitasking during complex maneuvers
- Use your mirrors but trust your instincts too
- Mirrors and sensors help, but your brain does the final calculation.
- Practice in low-pressure situations
- Create your own parking ritual