10 Spooky Ways Music Affects Your Brain

If you're anything like me, then you know that music has an immense effect on your mood. Something as simple as a riff or even a few notes can put you in the perfect state of mind for everything from writing a paper to smashing through some reps at the gym. That's why it should come as no surprise that the power of music can be harnessed in other ways too, including medically or to help people with disabilities communicate with one another.

Collection of 10 Spooky Ways Music Affects Your Brain

1. Music Can Trigger Brain Waves

Have you ever wondered if music can be used to help cure mental or physical illnesses? Well, turns out the answer is yes. In fact, researchers have found that certain frequencies of music can actually cause brain waves on a cellular level. For example, a study published in the Journal of Medical Sciences in 2004 concluded that electronic music produced brain waves that were rhythmically similar to brain waves associated with pain.

2. Music Can Help You Lose Weight

For those who are overweight or obese, listening to music can actually help lower the stress involved. In fact, an experiment conducted by a group at the University of California at Irvine found that changing the music people listen to can change their mood, which in turn can influence their food choices i.e., healthier or less healthy. So next time you're sick of hearing the same old Top 40 hits and have to go grocery shopping, go ahead and switch it up with some new jams.

3. Music May Reduce The Effects Of Alzheimer's Disease And Dementia

There are few things in life as painful as watching a loved one suffer through Alzheimer's disease or dementia. If you've ever thought to yourself, I wonder what it would feel like if I removed music from their life, since it seems to be the one thing that helps calm them, you're not alone. A University of New Mexico study found that Alzheimer's patients were able to show a significant improvement in their cognitive ability just by listening to music.

4. Music Can Increase Psychic Abilities

Have you ever wondered if you possess psychic abilities? The short answer is yes, but it seems that listening to certain types of music actually helps facilitate these abilities. For instance, in a study conducted at the University of Athens, researchers found that playing music composed by Mozart helped "activate and induce psychic experiences" in 85 percent of subjects.

5. Music Can Help Boost Your Brain Power And Improve Memory

It may sound like something out of a movie or some late night infomercial, but there's actually scientific proof that listening to music can help improve memory and brain power. In fact, researchers have found that when it comes to music, there is only one key ingredient: rhythm. For instance, one study published in the Texas Academy of Science concluded that all types of music enhance intelligence levels and mental skills. The only difference? Rhythm is the magic ingredient that makes it happen.

6. Music Can Produce Various States Of Mind

Ever wonder if you can use music to endow yourself with otherworldly abilities? Well, that's exactly what happened in a study conducted by the University of Essex. Researchers discovered that people with musical training had a greater ability to obtain and control different states of mind and emotions, which is why it's so important to keep your ear out for new and unique musical releases.

7. Music Can Lower Stress Levels And Help You Sleep Better

Just as it's been traditionally believed, music can actually lower stress levels, which is why so many people turn on their favorite jams while they wind down at the end of a long day. In fact, according to one study conducted by the University of Exeter Medical School, turning on some tunes can help you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply. It's no wonder that the power of music is being turned into a medical treatment for insomnia and other disorders that affect mood and mental function.

8. Music Can Improve Your Relationship

Can music really improve your relationship? Turns out the answer is yes. In fact, an experiment conducted by the University of Bristol found that couples who were listening to romantic music had significantly greater bond. It didn't take long before researchers discovered that the two main factors were the type of music fast paced rhythmically significant was more effective than others and how it was used the more intense a person's attachment to their partner, the more effective romantic music in enhancing the relationship.

9. Music Can Help You Live Longer

If you've ever wondered if certain types of music can actually prolong your life, the answer is yes. For example, a study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign found that listening to classical music resulted in a 12 percent decrease in cortisol levels. This is important because cortisol tends to trigger aggressive behavior and is associated with stress, so lower levels can help produce a more positive outlook on life.

10. Music Can Make You More Musical And Improve Your Hearing

Just as it's been traditionally believed, music can help improve your hearing. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience discovered that listening to music actually helps improve your hearing. So next time you're in a loud or otherwise noisy environment, take advantage of this power by listening to a new song or playlist it could help you hear things that you once may not have heard.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that music does not only have the ability to influence your mood and being but can actually improve your physical well-being by improving memory, fighting disease, helping you sleep better and increasing the longevity of your life. So instead of listening to those stress inducing Top 40 hits at the gym or during your daily commute, try loading up on some new tunes that are scientifically proven to help you out in more ways than one.