Music is so ingrained into our lives, from TV and film soundtracks to our own musical choices, and even what the radio introduces us to \u2014 it\u2019s constant. Turns out, this can be a good thing for the brain. Why?<\/p>\n
The power of music on the brain is so incredible that it can increase emotional and cognitive functioning by releasing dopamine and conversely reducing cortisol levels to improve mood, memory, and focusing abilities. The domino effect of these improvements is improved sleep and motivation: key factors to active aging and a healthy and happy life.<\/p>\n
How Listening to Music Works on Your Brain<\/strong><\/p>\n When we are stressed, our bodies automatically resort to the fight or flight response as a result of the stress hormone cortisol. This takes up a lot of energy \u2014 energy better spent on more nurturing activities and ways to handle situations. A build-up of cortisol levels can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses, as well as increased feelings of agitation and anger.<\/p>\n Cortisol injected into the bloodstream can lead to muscle tension, increased heart rate, and spikes in blood pressure. Since listening to music that you enjoy reduces cortisol levels, your body is able to relax into its natural rhythms, meaning better sleep patterns as well as mental clarity and alertness.<\/p>\n \u201cYour brain lights up like a Christmas tree when you listen to music. Music is really such a complex stimulus, and you can use it in an intentional way for general wellness,\u201d says neurologic music therapist and Associate Professor in the Bower School of Music & the Arts, Kimberly Sena Moore.<\/p>\n Thus, music is an excellent \u201canti-aging\u201d tool to keep your brain engaged \u2013 and your heart happy, listening to those tunes!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Do you know how or wish to learn how to sing or play an instrument? Even better.<\/em><\/p>\n How Does Music Relate to Neuroscience<\/strong><\/p>\n According to research by Simon Landry at the University of Montreal, “As people get older, for example, we know their reaction times get slower,” says Landry.\u00a0“So, if we know that playing a musical instrument increases reaction times, then maybe playing an instrument will be helpful for them.”<\/p>\n He also concluded that people who play an instrument have faster auditory, tactile, and audio-tactile reaction times.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n What Part of The Brain Does Music Stimulate?<\/strong><\/p>\n There are three main areas of your brain that music affects: the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and the cerebellum. These areas are what stimulate emotional responses in the listener, which is why you might find yourself identifying certain emotions with certain songs.<\/p>\n Music also has the power to create new neuropathways because \u201cmusic is one of the few things that crosses both hemispheres of the brain, helping to create new neural pathways for language,\u201d explains Blake French, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS.<\/p>\n This fact makes it an excellent tool to use with elderly people who\u2019ve suffered from a stroke or live with dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s, as part of their rehabilitation to increase communication and even confidence.<\/p>\n Benefits of Music on The Aging Brain<\/strong><\/p>\n Perhaps you took piano lessons when you were younger or played in the school band. All that time wasn\u2019t just for fun, it was also helping to create additional neural connections that can help compensate for cognitive declines later in life. The motor control and coordination needed to play an instrument, as well as using your mouth and breath for wind instruments and singing, along with learning how to read music, all contribute to a brain boost that\u2019ll pay-off in your senior years.<\/p>\n It does not mean if you didn\u2019t learn while you were young that you can\u2019t benefit from learning an instrument or even simply listening to music now.<\/p>\n How Learning an Instrument Can Benefit the Aging Brain<\/strong><\/p>\n How Listening to Music Can Impact the Aging Brain<\/strong><\/p>\n There is a relationship between music and better mental health, in which music acts as a creative way to process emotions, trauma and grief. It can also be used to regulate and calm emotions.<\/p>\n\n
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