How music affects our health

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It improves mood, helps to remember forgotten things, develops the brain and more.

Music stimulates different areas of the brain

Music and other sounds enter the ear as sound waves. They create vibrations in the eardrum, which are converted into electrical signals. These signals travel along the auditory nerve to the auditory cortex of the brain. And she decodes the sound into something recognizable and understandable for us.

Unlike other sounds, music affects more than just the auditory cortex. Using fMRI, scientists have found that it affects areas of the brain associated with emotion, memory and movement.

The latter especially interested scientists. The US National Institutes of Health is investigating the effects of music on patients with movement disorders. For example, with Parkinson's disease. With this disease, people gradually lose their ability to move.

"Beat music can help people with Parkinson's to walk," says neuroscientist Robert Finkelstein, one of the study's co-leaders.

There is also evidence that music is beneficial for Alzheimer's disease, dementia, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and speech disorders.

Playing a musical instrument develops the brain

It stimulates different areas of the brain at the same time. This is especially useful for children and adolescents whose brains are still developing. Neuroscientists at Northwestern University in Illinois have investigated how learning music affects brain development. According to them, music has a positive effect on learning ability, even if music lessons begin in high school.

“The adolescents in our study showed biological changes in the brain after two years of regular music practice,” said Professor Nina Kraus.

It improves learning, reading and writing skills. And the positive effect lasts for a long time.

“Once you've taught your brain to respond effectively to sounds, it continues to do so even when your music activity has stopped,” says Kraus. "The longer you play a musical instrument, the more your brain develops."

In addition, it can protect against hearing loss. In old age, everyone's hearing deteriorates. Research has shown that it is easier for musicians to pick out what someone is talking to in noisy environments.

Music therapy helps to cope with difficulties

Music therapists use rhythm and melody to help people regain abilities lost due to brain injury or developmental disabilities. For example, people after a stroke cannot speak, but they can sing words. And listening to music together helps to establish contact with a relative who suffers from dementia.

Researchers at Indiana University are using music therapy to help children and adolescents with cancer. For example, in one experience, they helped patients write lyrics and music videos about what matters most to them.

“Music therapy helped them see their strengths and find ways to cope, bond with family and friends,” explains Sheri Robb, music therapist and behavioral intervention specialist.

While scientists continue to study the effects of music on the brain, try adding it to your life. It will improve your mood, strengthen relationships with others, and even ease symptoms of illness.

“Treat music the same way you do sports or nutrition,” advises Nina Kraus. - Listen to it regularly to see the benefits. It's never too late to add some music to your life."