HOW MUSIC ORCHESTRATES THE MIND

Have you ever wondered as to how 5 mins of listening to your favorite music functions like a drug by calming your mind and elevating your mood? Don't be surprised if I say that all these effects that you are experiencing in your day to day life is scientifically proven...

Listening to music has always been a way of escaping from the mundaneness of everyday life. Additionally, it is said to bring calmness, reduce stress, pain and symptoms of depression. Different types of music has different impacts on people. 

Scientifically, music is said to have a profound effect on the human body, particularly mental health. Recent studies prove that music can improve human behavior and brain functions. Music improves the cognitive and motor function of the brain, it improves memory, establishes connections and aids in  neurogenesis- the ability to generate newer neurons. In the book The Power Of Music, Elena Mannes says, "Scientists have found that music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function."

According to a 2014 study, researchers confirmed that listening to music triggers release of opioids which are the body's natural pain relievers. Thus it helped in reducing pain.

According to a 2013 study conducted among students, researchers concluded that music helps lower cortisol levels and thus help to control distress in children admitted in the ER.

Doctors found out that by playing their favorite childhood music pieces to Alzheimer patients, doctors were able to evoke the patients past memories connected with that particular music. This activity for 10 minutes a day was helpful in boosting their brain activity to a great extent.

Music is also said to affect the limbic, cerebral activity and hence reduce the frequency of seizures in epileptic patients.

Music is said to engage both the left and the right hemispheres. Hence, music in the first few weeks after stroke is also said to improve the verbal memory in stroke patients and pave way for a faster recovery. 

Ever felt the urge to listen to a particular song on loop? It is because it evokes the most emotions in you and makes you recall bittersweet emotions. Also this particular song helps in reflective learning and helps improve quality of life.

Music is also said to have a profound effect on the bioelectrical brainwave activity. An electroencephalogram(EEG) is used to record the electrical activity in the brain. This report is helpful in evaluating the synaptic actions in the brain which is directly connected to the state of mind. Voltage traces recorded by EEG electrodes are described as waves. These waves are primarily classified into 5 different types and each of these types describe a particular state of brain activity.

Alpha waves : It is associated with a state of relaxation. It is associated with daydreaming and meditation. It helps in reducing stress and anxiety.

Beta waves : It is recorded when then brain is mentally active and alert. It is detected when the brain is fully conscious or engaged in some challenging task.

Gamma waves : They are the fastest waves produced in the brain. It is somewhat similar to beta waves in terms of detection but has much higher frequency.

Theta waves : It is associated with a state of deep relaxation; when you are in light sleep or drifting off to sleep.

Delta waves : They are the slowest recorded brain waves. It is recorded when a person is in deep sleep. It is mostly prevalent in infants and also in people with severe brain injury. Its absence prevents the brain from rejuvenating the body.

The neural activity of the brain is subject to change with reference to various external stimulations. One of the most surprising external stimulator of change is MUSIC. Certain pieces are said to have impacted the Alpha waves while some are said to impact the Beta waves. However both of these changes are said to have a positive effect on the human brain and thus significantly improve human life.

However, too much of anything is bad. So make sure that listening to minimum amount of music on a regular basis is no longer a guilty pleasure, rather it is a treat to yourself !

Sources :

1.https://info.tmsi.com/blog/types-of-brain-waves

2.https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/the-powerful-effect-of-music-on-the-brain.html

3.https://www.stlukeshealth.org/resources/music-your-ears-how-songs-can-affect-brain

4.https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/listening-to-same-song-on-repeat

5.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6130927/

6.https://psyfitms.com/types-of-brain-waves/

7.https://info.tmsi.com/blog/types-of-brain-waves

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