Archaeologists in Germany discovered musical instruments—four flutes made from bones or tusks—dating to about 40,000 years ago. These are theoldest known instruments and an indication of just how integral music is to the human experience.
Modern scientists have uncovered many of the ways this long history with music impacts human health. From brain function to mental health and mood, music, it turns out, is great for brain health.
Music Is Universal
While the particulars of songs and how they are used vary by culture, the fact that humans make, use and enjoy music is truly universal. Everywhere in the world, people make music. And, as it turns out, music elicits similar responses in people, no matter where they live.
Cross-Cultural Reactions to Music
Ina study involving people in Canada and members of a fairly isolated Congolese tribe, researchers played music from each of the two cultures.
Both groups of people reacted similarly in terms of physiological response. Despite vast cultural differences, there is a deep-seated human reaction to music.
Your Brain on Music
Scientists have found thatmusic affects every part of the brain. Measuring brain activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging, they found that every area of the brain lights up when people listen to music, not just the auditory center.
This fact tells researchers a lot about music and the brain. For instance, activation in parts of the brain that regulate motor function suggests that movement and music are inherently connected. We are wired to dance in response to music.
These are some of the other parts of the brain and how they connect with music:
- Listening to music enhances the function of the frontal lobe, the area responsible for thinking and planning.
- Music stimulates the speech center of the brain, Broca’s area, which means music makes us better communicators.
- Musicians have more activity in the occipital lobe, which is associated with vision. This indicates that musicians might visualize musical scores when performing.
- Music increases the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, the pleasure center of the brain also associated with addiction.
- Music also releases dopamine in the putamen, an area of the brain associated with rhythm and coordination. This explains how music helps people with motor dysfunctions from illnesses like Parkinson’s disease.
- Music stimulates the hippocampus, potentially creating new neurons and enhancing memory.
- In the hypothalamus, music changes hormone levels, leading to a relaxed heart rate and blood pressure.
Background Music and Cognitive Skills
One of the most well-known and recognized benefits of music in the brain is related to cognitive tasks. Cognition is how we think, learn, acquire knowledge, process experiences, and gather information from our senses.
Whether or not music makes you smarter is debatable and also subjective, but it definitely enhances cognition, memory, and learning through strengthening brain connectivity.
Work Better with Music
When working with music, most people complete tasks faster and more accurately. The important part of this is that it is music you enjoy. There is even evidence that when listening to your choice of music, you will come up with better ideas for your work.
Even if you are only doing repetitive, rote tasks, music can help you complete them more efficiently.
Music Boosts Creativity
Creativity is an important part of cognition. It allows you to come up with new, innovative ideas and solutions to problems. Creativity is not just for artists and musicians. Everyone benefits from more creative thinking.
Many studies have connected music to a boost in creativity.In one study, participants listening to happy music improved divergent thinking, the type of thinking associated with creativity and new ideas.
They could think more flexibly and change perspective to develop more ideas while working on a problem.
Music Improves Memory and Learning
Memory is essential for learning and cognition. Working memory capacity increases when you listen to music, according to studies. When listening to classical music, for instance, most people perform better on short memory recall exercises, like memorizing a list of words.
There may be other reasons that music is an ideal companion for studying and learning. Music boosts your mood and reduces stress, making you more receptive to studying, for instance.
Music as a reward can be a good way to motivate learning and studying. Music can also improve your focus, which makes study sessions more effective.
There is some subjectivity to this. For certain people, music is more of a distraction. The type of music can make a difference. Classical music is less distracting than music with lyrics or songs that provoke a strong personal and emotional response.
Brain Health and Cognitive Decline
Cognitive function decreases in all people as they age, but people with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease experience significant, harmful decline. Music, researchers find, can slow cognitive decline, and possibly even reverse some loss.
That music can slow and delay declining brain function is well-proven, but reversing losses in memory and function is still controversial.
Astudy from 2017 found that music might be able to reverse very early memory loss. The study involved older adults with subjective cognitive decline, a type of pre-clinical, or early Alzheimer's disease.
The study participants completed a 12-week music-listening program. They showed significant improvements in objective cognitive function and memory after the program, which are some of the areas that most often decline in Alzheimer's patients.
Music also provides incredible mood boosts for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. When listening to familiar music they enjoyed earlier in their lives, when they were healthier, these patients seem to feel more like their old selves. They sing along, recall memories, exhibit more positive emotions, and even dance.
The music significantly improves their mood and quality of life, possibly by triggering emotion, memory, speech, and reward centers in the brain.
Music and Mental Health
Brain health is intimately wrapped up with mood and mental and emotional health. Most people listen to music because of the emotional triggers. Music helps regulate mood, process emotions, and improve mental health. It’s not just music therapy. Simply listening to your favorite songs or any upbeat music can make you feel better.
Music Lowers Anxiety and Stress
Studies of patients in stressful situations show that music can provide instant relief.One study provided music to people in rehab programs post-stroke. They relaxed significantly after an hour of listening to music. Blending nature sounds into music boosts the effect.
People also find that music can reduce anxiety and stress after a distressing experience. Music can trigger the autonomic nervous system, causing decreases in blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. All of these physical effects reduce stress and relax the body and mind.
Music Improves Depression Symptoms
While it is not a replacement for professional treatment, studies indicate that listening to music can be a useful antidote for depression. Music therapy really helps people get the most out of the anti-depressive effects. With professional guidance, music can be an outlet and a tool for regulating and processing emotions while also boosting mood.
It is important to note that especially when it comes to mental health and emotions, music can be a very subjective experience. While heavy metal music might be distressing to some, for another person it could trigger happy memories. Some people prefer classical music, while others find it depressing.
Music’s Effect on Sleep Quality
Music is a useful tool for improving brain health, but sleep is absolutely essential to its ongoing functioning. Sleep affects nearly every part of your body, including the brain. No one yet fully understands what happens when we sleep, but it is clear that it has many impacts on the brain.
The brain remains active during sleep and likely engages in many housekeeping functions. This is when the brain consolidates memories, removes toxins from the brain, and helps you process information and emotions that came in throughout the day.
Inadequate sleep can put you at an increased risk for all kinds of health issues, from obesity and heart disease to dementia and Alzheimer's disease, even depression.
Insomnia can be tough to beat, but music might be a useful tool for some people.In one study, participants were sorted into three groups. One listened to classical music before bed for several weeks. The other groups either listened to an audiobook or nothing.
The group that listened to music at bedtime showed signs of significantly higher quality of sleep. They compared sleep quality measures before and after the intervention.
There are many reasons why music might help people sleep better, all related to the brain benefits of music. The boost in mood, the relaxation effect, the release of dopamine, and other factors are all conducive to getting better sleep.
The Importance of Music for Brain Development
Ina survey of older adults, the AARP asked members about music, cognition, and emotional well-being. Those who reported heavy exposure to music as children were much more likely to report excellent or very good current brain health.
This illustrates what many researchers have discovered: music is good for adult brain health, but it also supports the developing brain in babies and children.
Early Music Exposure
Music in early childhood, even in the womb, supports brain development in several ways. Exposure to music prepares children to acquire language, learn to read and learn math skills. Babies find music soothing and sleep better when listening to lullabies. Even very young babies can benefit from age-appropriate music lessons.
Music and Academic Performance
For school-aged children, playing an instrument or engaging in other musical activities can have benefits for school performance. Children who play a musical instrument are generally happier at school and more interested in their classes.
These children also tend to get better grades and test scores in core classes, like math, reading, and language arts. Performing music increases blood flow in the brain and establishes more connections between neurons, which might explain how it improves a child’s cognitive skills.
The Lasting Effects of Music in Childhood
The survey respondents who reported having good brain health are on to something. Researchers have found that a lot of exposure to music in childhood has lasting effects on brain health and cognition. This is particularly true for those who studied and played music in childhood.
The reason for this effect has to do with brain plasticity, its ability to change and respond to stimuli. In order to learn, the brain must be plastic and adaptable.
Learning, studying, and listening to music during childhood when the brain has greater plasticity might account for greater brain health later in life.
Is Classical Music Best for Better Brain Health?
It was long believed that classical music is ideal and better for you than other types of music. What researchers have since discovered is that thebest kind of music for benefits is subjective. People respond the best to the music that they prefer.
Patients with Alzheimer's and dementia respond most to the music they grew up listening to and enjoying. Music with personal associations stirs memories even in people with these memory disorders.
Although personal preferences matter, there is a limit. Upbeat music, for instance, is more likely to boost your mood than a gloomy piece. If you are feeling stressed, a soothing piece of music will help you more than something loud and fast. And, yes, classical music might just be better for improving focus and cognitive function.
BetterSleep - Your Music and Brain Health Guide
The BetterSleep app has a great library of music to help you get all the brain benefits of both music and quality sleep.
The music section of the app includes something for everyone and every mood. To get started, try the top 10 most popular picks, including things like Tibetan tunes and a soothing sound bath.
To listen for hours, choose one of our carefully curated playlists. You'll find Celtic music, gentle piano, spa music, tunes for deep focus, and a baby playlist.
If you're really battling insomnia, we have tools for you too. The Astral Blessings, Sea of Tranquility, Ethereal Slumber, and more are designed to ease your mind into a restful sleep.
You can also find music and playlists for unwinding, supporting meditation, deeper sleep, and for emotional healing.
Because the sounds of nature can also soothe the mind and prepare you for sleep, check out the sound library. You can even create mixes that combine your most relaxing sounds with gentle music.
Music affects so much when it comes to brain health and function. Whether you have real musical training or just appreciate listening to music, it can improve your sleep and your brain.
