Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Source: http://www.omharmonics.com/blog/how-music-affects-the-brain/
Music stimulates various parts of the brain, making it an
effective therapeutic or mood-altering tool. Music’s pitch, rhythm, meter and
timbre are processed in various parts of the brain ranging from the prefrontal
cortex to the hippocampus to the parietal lobe. Rhythm and pitch are primarily
left brain hemisphere functions, while timbre and melody are processed
primarily in the right hemisphere. Meter is processed in both hemispheres
What is interesting is that spatial-temporal tasks (2-D and 3-D
manipulation of physical objects and spatial reasoning needed for building
structures, etc.) are also located in the same areas of the brain that are
stimulated by music. Listening to music stimulates the areas of the brain
concerned with spatial reasoning – although studies have determined that this
effect doesn’t last more than 15 minutes after the music has stopped.
You may have heard of stroke victims learning to talk again
using music, or stutterers learning to speak fluently by learning to sing their
sentences. It’s not clear yet exactly how this works. Anyone can experience the
benefits of music on the brain; the type of music matters less than the
listener’s personal preferences. If you don’t like a particular type of music,
it will actually have the opposite effect than its intended use! The heightened
mental arousal brought about by music can be used every day to enhance your
life experience. Here’s how:
De-stressing
and healing: Just the
right soothing music decreases stress, including lowering the levels of the
stress hormone cortisol. Personal preference is important: obviously if smooth
jazz makes you angry, it’s not the right music to listen to for relaxation!
Soothing music is also beneficial in a healing situation – again, by decreasing
stress, and also by elevating the patient’s mood.
Immune booster: Upbeat
dance music boosts your immune system. This may be partially due to the
hypnotic beat of the music that causes the brain to go into the alpha state
where the brain begins releasing endorphins (a natural painkiller) and healing
hormones. Stress
reduction plays a big part
here as well.
Enhanced exercise: You probably already know how music makes a
boring workout seem much more fun. There’s a correlation between upbeat, fast
paced music and the effectiveness of your exercise. It serves as a point of
focus, taking your mind off your aches and burning muscles; and it motivates
you. This may go back to the caveman days, when rhythmic drumbeats were used to
put people into a trance, or to pump them up before a hunt or battle. Not much
different than the beats we hear at a dance club… the heart also entrains to the
beat of the music, making it easier to exercise to fast-paced music because the
heart is already in sync with the tempo. Using dance music for exercise will
not only make the workout fun, but will improve your immune response!
Meditation
aid: rhythmic
drumming and chanting have been used for many thousands of years to put people
in a trance-like state of altered consciousness.
Memory
recall: Some
studies have shown a substantial increase in memory recall while listening to
classical music, especially Mozart. The famous “Mozart Effect” doesn’t actually
promise increased intelligence, although studies have shown that children who
are brought up learning musical instruments or singing are better at
spatial-temporal reasoning.
Anti-anxiety: Music is very good at promoting
self-soothing: have you ever hummed a tune to decrease anxiety or to remain
calm under pressure? If you have a theme song you like to play before
competition or some big event, you know exactly how helpful this is – and it can
be anything you really like – anything to distract you from the stress of the
moment and get you pumped up.
Anti-fatigue,
anti-boredom: Music
helps keep you energized and productive – but be careful here; blaring metal or
fast dance music just to stay awake might not be something your co-workers
appreciate. The best music for focus doesn’t have words or a complex melody, to
avoid distraction.
Heightened
spiritual experience: Music has been a part of religious and
spiritual traditions since the dawn of mankind. It enhances the feeling of unity
with a higher power/source energy, and many spiritual practices employ rhythmic
chanting to create an altered state of consciousness.
Improved
mood: Research
has shown that music generally improves mood. If you’re slogging through a
boring day at work, forcing yourself through a tough workout, trying to
motivate yourself to mop the floor… music will help!
It’s a
well-known “fact” (unsubstantiated) that your favorite music makes house
cleaning go twice as fast because you tend to move along with the music and
dance your way through your cleaning chores. And even if it doesn’t actually
make time go faster, you’ll enjoy what you’re doing more. In the case of
cleaning the house, that’s a great thing!
Music
is the universal language. Humans
are hard-wired to appreciate and need music – so find some music you enjoy, and
let its good vibrations stimulate your brain in wonderful ways!
