The Healing Power of Music

Music is a universal language that has the power to evoke various thoughts and emotions and reduce stress and anxiety. According to a research study from Harvard Medical School, music has the power to affect “cognitive function, quality of life, and even happiness.” From classical to pop, through its many genres, music has the power to improve brain health, elicit various emotions, and prevent cognitive impairment. 

“From classical music to pop, music, through its many genres, has the power to improve brain health, elicit various emotions, and prevent cognitive impairment. “

As the Greek philosopher Plato once said, “music gives wings to [the] mind.” A new field of study that analyzes the intersection between music and neuroscience, called Neuromusicology, focuses on how the brain is affected by the waves of sound. Listening to music is helpful in reducing stress and anxiety by causing the stress hormone, cortisol, to decrease and releasing endorphins to cope with pain. In addition, the formation of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and happiness, is stimulated when listening to music. For example, if you hear the introduction of your favorite song while listening to your playlist or while shopping in the mall, your brain triggers a boost of dopamine, thereby resulting in a wave of positive emotions. Dopamine is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter that results in a feeling of reward and happiness. 

The study at Harvard Medical School involved a 20-minute online survey where 3,185 adults answered questions relating to the impact of music on cognitive and emotional well-being. This study proved that music activates some of the broadest and most diverse networks of the brain. Specifically, it activates the auditory cortex in the temporal lobe (which is near your ears) of your brain. In addition, music activates emotions and our motor system which causes one to tap their foot to the beat!

Like the positive impact on memory retention, supplemental music therapy can be used in healthcare to improve mental health and promote healing. Music Therapy is a systemic intervention process that uses various techniques including listening to music and musical activities and can be used as an alternative treatment method. The biological effects of music and sound can be harnessed to improve patient outcomes for those suffering from cognitive decline through conditions like Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Research suggests that listening to music, playing instruments, and singing can result in emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. 

Specifically, a research study from the Alzheimer’s Association analyzed the effects of rhythmic music on game performance in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Each participant took a brain training/matching game test over a period of 18 days. The experimental group performed the cognitive tasks while listening to music while the control group did not listen to music. At the end of the study, it was clear that music is associated with an increase in cognitive testing scores therefore implying the positive cognitive benefits of music. 

Music and cognitive stimulation are connected in many case studies with mental health patients worldwide. Through its many genres, the physics of music and its sound waves have been proven to improve brain health, cause different emotions, and prevent memory loss. The next time you listen to music, think about how it activates the connections in your brain and the memories associated with it!