The Effects of Music on the Brain 

Music has been a form of communication since ancient times. The man was born, married, and finally passed on to eternal chords. The customs have been preserved to this day and demonstrate the importance of this art.

However, it was not until the 18th century that the first scientific researches appeared, which attested to the effects that music has on the human psyche.

The subject covered in the study "Reflections on the power of music" was resumed with interest later, especially in the twentieth century, when the foundations of a true science of music therapy were laid.

So, if you are also curious to find out what this research has shown, then find out what effects music has on you!

1. What effects does music have on the human psyche?

Music can have surprising effects on the human psyche, which, if not scientifically proven, would seem unreal. Did you know, for example, that it accelerates the healing of neuronal damage? A 2019 study, performed on patients with this type of disease, highlighted its impact, both on the process of accelerating neuroplasticity and restoring connections and on the process of restoring neural functions.

Another study, from 2014, showed that music can reduce pain and increase the mobility of those suffering from fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that is evolving rapidly. During the hearing, endorphins are released which largely relieve the symptoms of this disease.

Moreover, music also helps to improve the quality of sleep, which is why it is recommended for babies from the first months of life. The effects of music on children are, however, much more numerous.

1.1. The effects of music on children

Music has different effects on children, depending on their age. For babies, it acts as a sedative, helping them fall asleep faster. It also contributes to the harmonious motor development and stabilization of emotional states and facilitates voice recognition.

Things change in the case of children older than 4–5 years. So here are the benefits that music has on them:

• Stimulates creativity and intelligence

Experts believe that music makes the little ones happier and thus develops their imagination and allows them to express their emotions creatively. It is not for nothing that it is said that musicians are the most inventive people!

In addition, music has a pragmatic side. Studies show that after only 15 months of practice with an instrument, the intellect becomes more alert, and motor functions improve.

• Strengthens the immune system and prevents cardiovascular disease

Although most children do not suffer from heart disease, it cannot be said that they have no problems with the immune system. Because it develops over time, they get sick easily, especially if they are very small. Music helps in this regard. A study conducted in Leipzig, Germany, by researchers at the Max Planck Institute, showed that 300 subjects showed, after a musical audition, more antibodies, and much less cortisone.

Moreover, music also helps prevent cardiovascular disease by reducing blood pressure and heart rate.

• Develops qualities such as patience and perseverance

As in the case of painting or other arts, here too, if you do not practice much, you will never get to perform. Learning to play an instrument is an extremely difficult thing, but many do not give up this passion, and this is largely due to music. When you listen to it, it can instantly calm the tense body and thus help you to continue your activity.

1.2. The effects of music on adults

Although music can have the same beneficial effects on adults, in their case, it can also solve psychological disorders, such as stress and insomnia. Here is how it contributes to the continuous development of a mature organism:

• Increases productivity

A proven effect of music is to increase the level of hormones and other substances in the body, which are essential for mental energy and mental concentration. In addition, it stimulates their receptors. So, depending on the genre of music that each individual resonates with, it can help increase productivity.

• Increases the ability to concentrate and memorize

The studies that demonstrated these effects were intuitive: they started from the evocation of memories caused by listening to a song. The phenomenon that occurred at the neuroanatomical level was further researched and thus it was shown that people who listen to music constantly have a much higher memory capacity than those who do not.

Music also contributes to improving memory and this effect is demonstrated by countless studies, which show that listening to music stops the progression of degenerative diseases, which cause significant memory loss, such as dementia or Alzheimer's.

• Reduces stress and prevents anxiety

Specialists have shown that music has the same effect as anxiolytic treatments on patients suffering from anxiety. Moreover, the stress accumulated during the day can be reduced through certain musical genres, such as Celtic, classical music (especially the one that capitalizes on the flute), or jazz.

3. The negative effects of music on the brain and body

If it is overheated, like anything, music can be harmful. However, this only happens if you use headphones. Regardless of their size, worn for a long time, they can lead to deformity of the ear and destruction of the nerves inside it.

Over time, the high volume of the headphones can also affect your hearing. You may end up hearing a whistle all the time or, worse, not being able to distinguish certain sounds correctly. Therefore, moderation is the best prevention.

In addition, Dorothy Retallack's research on plants has shown that pieces by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Vanilla Fudge have affected their growth process. It is known that flowers "have musical preferences", and rock is not among them.

So, music has miraculous effects on humans, and research on this aspect is just beginning! So, if you haven't given it too much importance so far, try to be aware of the transformations you go through when listening to a musical genre. Create different playlists, for cleaning, reading, or shopping and enjoy all these benefits!