Researchers have pondered the possible therapeutic and mood boosting benefits of music for centuries.
Music is not just a harmless background noise created by musical instruments. The modern scientific research confirms the opinion of ancient philosophers that music and sound have both harmful and beneficial effects on people, plants, and animals.
Not all types of music have favorable effects, however. Too loud or too jarring music can be distracting, and can compete for our attention with what we’re trying to do. But for the most part, exposure to music, specifically classics, has beneficial effects
Like few other activities, the music involves the use of the whole brain. It improves memory, attention, physical coordination and mental development. The classical music stimulates the regeneration of brain cells.
Certain music improves the mood, intelligence, motivation and concentration. It also improves the quality of life and aids in physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. It helps in the treatment of autism, dementia, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, emotional trauma, mental disorders, and depression. Music decreases anxiety, anger, stress, and frustration.
moderate noise levels increase processing difficulty which promotes abstract processing, leading to higher creativity. Music Boosts the Immune System
An emotional response to the secretion of immune-boosting hormones is induced by certain music. Music decreases the stress-related hormone cortisol, the increased levels of which weaken the immune system. Hence the chances of illness get reduced.
When it comes to treating chronic conditions, music therapy can also play a powerful role.
music can evoke emotion, help regain memories, stimulate new neural connections, and active attention.
Relaxes Heart and Breathing
The researchers in England monitored the breathing, heartbeats, and blood pressure after six types of music like rap, pop, classical etc. with random two-minute pauses. The lively music increased the heart and breathing rates, which slowed down with slow music and became normal during the pauses. The personal liking did not matter. Not the style, but the tempo and pace caused the greatest effect on relaxation.
Chronic headaches & migraine remedy
Music can help people who suffer from migraines34 and chronic headaches35 to reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of the headaches.
Music enhances intelligence, learning, and IQ
The music makes one smarter and the listening or playing an instrument helps in better learning. The classical music including Mozart increases the performance in reasoning tests. But the new findings prove that any personally enjoyable music has similar effects.
Music activates the whole brain. The brain scans prove that the brains of professional musicians are more symmetrical. The parts responsible for motor control, auditory processing, and spatial coordination are larger and different from others. Information learned while listening to a particular song can often be recalled simply by “playing” the songs mentally.
Music that is easy to listen to or relaxing classics improves the duration and intensity of concentration in all age groups and ability levels.
Music is beneficial for the children with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder and benefits in mathematics tests. It increases emotional intelligence and helps to recall the autobiographical or episodic information. It alleviates depression, anxiety, and agitation by improving brain functions
Music improves Physical and Athletic Performance
The cheerful music gives extra energy and could reduce the fatigue. But too much pop and hard rock leave one more frazzled than energized. Change the music to classical, pop, jazz etc. to find the most beneficial one.
The rhythms of music move the body and restore the physical functions. It reduces the muscle tension and improves the body coordination. It can also help during the disability of movement.
The favorite and upbeat music boosts the mood and increases the work efficiency by giving happiness. It makes us more optimistic, joyful, friendly and relaxed.
there are two kind of emotions related to music: perceived emotions and felt emotions.This means that sometimes we can understand the emotions of a piece of music without actually feeling them, which explains why some of us find listening to sad music enjoyable, rather than depressing.
people hold emotional memories associated with particular songs or types of music over their whole lives. Brain imaging studies show that listening to your favorite music activates the dopaminergic ‘reward’ system in the brain in the same way that eating, sex, and taking recreational drugs might do.”
Relaxing classical music is safe, cheap and easy way to beat insomnia. Many people who suffer from insomnia find that Bach music helps them. Researchers have shown that just 45 minutes of relaxing music before bedtime can make for a restful night2.
Relaxing music reduces sympathetic nervous system activity, decreases anxiety, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate and may have positive effects on sleep via muscle relaxation and distraction from thoughts.