Music is synonymous with the human experience. The average person listens to at least 2 hours and 38 minutes of music a day. Thus, it’s safe to say music is the sound that decorates our lives. And with recent research, it seems this form of entertainment can be just as beneficial to our health.
Music As A Stimulant
Music is considered a stimulant, with only a few things stimulating the brain the way it does. This is crucial to keeping the brain functioning at its optimal level. After all, we strengthen our brain pathways when we use them. When we don’t, they get weaker. Music has the capability to activate and regulate various regions of the brain. All of these regions yield a wide range of benefits:
Cerebellum
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains the cerebellum as the second-largest organ in the brain. Located at the back of the head, it contains approximately 80% of all neurons in the Central Nervous System.
It is important for the regulation of balance, rhythm, reflex actions, equilibrium, and the coordination of skeletal muscle movement. The stimulated cerebellum is linked to motivation and regulated emotions, which can be affected by psychiatric disorders. In patients recovering from a stroke, it has been shown to promote balance and gait recovery, which is crucial to independent walking.
Amygdala
As the integrative center for emotions in the brain, the amygdala not only defines and regulates emotions, but also preserves memories and links them to said emotions. However, one of its most crucial functions is activating one’s fight-or-flight response. It activates fear-related behaviors in response to dangerous situations. An overstimulated amygdala can lead to anxiety and heightened emotions.
The amygdala is sensitive to music that it perceives as pleasant. When it encounters music like this, the amygdala activates a positive response, which improves your mood and regulates your emotions. This is beneficial for those facing depression and chronic anxiety.
Nucleus Accumbens
Considered the most important pleasure center in the human brain, the NA is responsible for the release of dopamine. Dopamine is essential for mood regulation, sleep, memory, concentration, and pleasure. When one listens to music they enjoy, the NA increases dopamine levels.
Dopamine deficiency has been linked to multiple medical conditions, including Parkinson’s Disease, ADHD, Schizophrenia, and Major Depressive Disorder.
Music Stimulates The Brain
“Music is one of the few things that crosses both hemispheres of the brain, helping it to create new neural pathways…”
says Blake French, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS. For the brain to perceive music, the auditory system is activated, which helps create and strengthen neural connections. The strengthening of neural connections leads to more efficient information processing in the brain. This is because the brain has to concentrate on comprehending multiple stimuli at the same time. This helps keep the brain active and functioning at its optimum level.
Could Music Possibly Help With The Aging Process?
Music is a very useful tool for keeping the brain engaged during the aging process. Studies have shown that music relieves stress, reduces anxiety, and slows cognitive decline in older people. Along with keeping the brain engaged during the aging process, it can also help lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality and increase mental alertness and memory.
Along with helping those experiencing cognitive decline, the Mayo Clinic reports that studies have shown that music can help people dealing with dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, through Music Therapy.
What Is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy is a treatment that helps with a variety of disorders. Including depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiac conditions.
This treatment involves various techniques revolving around music. This ranges from listening to, reflecting on, and even creating music, all under the guidance of a music therapist. Benefits of music therapy include:
- Lowered blood pressure
- Reduced muscle tension
- Improving memory
- Enhanced social and communication skills
- Improved pain management
A study led by researchers in Chicago and China found that music therapy has a long history of use for dementia patients. According to the report, music therapy slows down cognitive decline. This proves its ability to be a promising treatment for dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Music For Neurodegenerative Diseases
Music Therapy for Alzheimer’s
Studies have shown that music and music therapy can reduce agitation. It can also improve behavioral issues which occur in the middle stages of this disease. This form of therapy can help with memory, and stimulate one’s brain. As it also provides a way to connect, even after verbal communication has become difficult. As such, music makes treatment easier and slightly more enjoyable.
Music Therapy for Dementia
With dementia, musical perception, and musical memory can survive long after other forms of memory and cognitive function have disappeared due to the disease. In fact, in non-demented Parkinson’s disease, music therapy can result in fluent motor flow.
In a study comparing standard care to regular singing or music listening sessions over 10 weeks in 89 people with dementia. It was found that music listening sessions had improved general cognition, attention, and executive function compared to standard care. Another study showed that short-term music therapy reduced mood symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
Music Training
Listening to music isn’t the only way to benefit from this stimulus. This is because music can have a significant impact on memory and cognition beyond just listening to it. According to studies, musicians have been shown to have a greater volume of the cerebellum and auditory cortex.
In one study, “musically naïve” participants who had received six months of piano lessons compared with no treatment had shown improved cognitive performance on tasks including verbal fluency, speed, enhanced mood, and processing information.
Music: The Key To A Healthy Life
From the age of 8, our brains begin to get rid of neurons that aren’t used or perceived as unnecessary. However, music is a stimulant that we can intentionally use to improve general wellness. It can keep our neurons active, thus ensuring our brain health. Music plays a major role in keeping brain pathways and networks strong. This then impacts well-being, cognitive function, and general happiness.
References
- de Witte, M., Pinho, A.D.S., Stams, G.J., Moonen, X., Bos, A.E. and van Hooren, S., 2022. Music therapy for stress reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 16(1), pp.134-159.
- Lam, H.L., Li, W.T.V., Laher, I. and Wong, R.Y., 2020. Effects of music therapy on patients with dementia—A systematic review. Geriatrics, 5(4), p.62.
