Music and the Brain

Many have experienced music in some way at various points throughout their lives, be it playing a musical instrument, composing music, or simply listening to music. Formally, music is defined as “an arrangement of sounds having melody, rhythm, and usually harmony”. Listening to music causes the brain to release dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness; however, aside from entertainment and enjoyment, music also directly benefits the human brain and its function.

(image: listening to music causes your brain to release dopamine)

The human ear perceives sound from vibrations in the air, which are then transmitted into electrical signals which travel to the brain through the auditory nerve. Research has shown that music activates nearly every area of the brain, including those involved in auditory perception, emotion, motor, and memory. This is significant because whenever a part of your brain goes unused, the neurons will be directed to another pathway. Therefore, by listening to music and activating those parts of your brain, you are actually strengthening them. This can improve your well-being, ability to learn, and your cognitive function. It has also been shown that listening to music may lead to improved immunity as well as athletic performance.

Learning an instrument has even more positive impacts on the brain; it is believed that learning an instrument develops the brain in the same way that physical exercise develops muscles.

(image: learning an instrument has beneficial effects on the brain)

Sources

• https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-music-good-for-the-brain-2020100721062

• https://www.uagc.edu/blog/how-does-music-affect-your-brain

• https://www.ucf.edu/pegasus/your-brain-on-music/

• https://blog.feed.fm/music-is-performance-enhancing