Recall the moment when you listened to a great piece of music. Maybe it was a classical piece, like Mozart or Beethoven, or maybe it was rock, like Pink Floyd or The Beatles. Regardless of the genre, the music probably made you feel some emotion. Maybe it made you want to dance, or maybe it gave you chills. But why does this happen? How is music such a powerful force and able to significantly impact our brains like that?
How does music affect us and our brains?
Listening or playing music is a great way to exercise and stimulate your brain. Specifically, it has been shown that music stimulates the reward system in our brains, especially in adolescents, and encourages the release of neurotransmitters and hormones involved with emotions and memories. Music can also help release neurotransmitters involved with forming social relationships and interactions, which is what makes it such a great way to bond with others!
Contrary to the old belief that music cognition is only in the right hemisphere of the brain, music lights up all areas of the brain. Certainly, when listening to music, the auditory cortex of the brain is activated when our ears pick up the sound waves produced by the music. However, interestingly it has been found that our motor system is also activated while listening to music, causing us to tap our feet or move to the beat. Listening or playing music more or less affects every part of the brain in all areas, making it a great way to stimulate your brain. Additionally, with more emotional or sad music, research has found that the auditory cortex, insula (responsible for self-awareness and addiction), and inferior frontal gyrus (responsible for speech) all work together in synch, as well as other areas.
A study involving the brains of professional, amateur, and non-musicians (all keyboardists ranging from ages 18-40) discovered that the levels of gray matter volume in the motor, visual and spatial, and auditory areas of the brain were higher among the professionals, moderate among amateurs, and were the lowest among the non-musicians. Although there is a possibility that these differences in brain structures were caused by other natural factors, the scientists believed that this positive correlation with musicians and the gray matter increase was most likely caused by repetitive practice over a long period of time.
Music's fascinating healing effects:
Music-based interventions (MBIs) and music therapy are being used to help heal people who are struggling with chronic diseases or symptoms. For example, music-based movement therapy has been proven to be beneficial for patients with Parkinson's disease. Rhythmic auditory stimulation is used for these patients, using pulsing sounds or a metronome to help with certain movement skills such as walking. In addition to aiding with motor and movement skills, playing music can help improve balance and mental health for people with Parkinson's. Also, singing may help with the speech skills hindered by the condition.
MBIs have also shown to have some effect for people recovering from a stroke. Like with Parkinson's disease, MBIs can improve the individual's physical condition such as balance, walking ability, and upper limb activity which have been impaired by the stroke. Rhythmic auditory stimulation also helps achieve this. MBIs also have positive effects on mood for people recovering from stroke.
Lastly, MBIs have been proven to be very effective for dementia patients. They can help reduce the depressive symptoms associated with the condition, improve emotional wellbeing and quality of life, as well as reduce anxiety levels. Music has shown to have huge impacts on reducing stress and anxiety levels. It can play a big role in reducing nervousness and worry, as well as physical symptoms of stress such as high blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormone levels.
Not only is it a nice pass-time or a way to focus on work, music actually has beneficial factors and impacts on people struggling with chronic conditions. Listening and playing music has shown to have significant impacts on our brain development and structure. Music has always been incredibly important ever since the beginning of civilization, holding the great power of spreading joy and bringing people together from every walk of life.
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