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Laura Effinger

Prof. Stalbird

English 1102

27, March 2020

Music is Beneficial to the Human Brain and Daily Life

Imagine going for a long run. What is the first thing that may be necessary for the run?

Well, the water of course and maybe an athletic watch to track the run. But what is something

that may make the run more enjoyable? Most would argue that music is an essential part of a

good workout and it is proven that music will increase your energy and result in an overall better

workout. Is music essential to average daily life? Many people don’t recognize the enormity of

music around them. Sometimes it seems as if people are so used to having music within their

lives that they don’t understand how much of their lives incorporate music. Music comes in

many forms and impacts everyone in different ways. Whether someone uses music to help them

study, workout, relieve pain, help with anxiety, or just for the fun of it, it is such a huge

component to life. Most people don’t understand all the science behind music and how it affects

the human brain, but it has been used substantially in the past decades. Music impacts many

sections of the brain, which results in its ability to be an excellent source of therapy for the

human brain and therefore, music is proven to improve mood, health, productivity, memory, and

ability to cope with pain.

Music has changed, evolved and grown over the decades. In the beginning, there were

few instruments, let alone none like the ones that are here today. Music used to be simple and not

complex. Music once resembled the sounds of nature. Humans would mimic what they heard
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around them when it comes to the tones and rhythm. Since music has changed drastically over

the years, “the change in the sound of music is really a reflection of our cultural evolution”

(Sonic Space). Music started off as being the basis of ceremonies and rituals to the indigenous

people. As time went by, music grew to new levels including the wide variety of new

instruments. The development of these instruments resulted in “more sophisticated and complex

sounds” (Sonic Space). As most people are aware, music does not revolve around nature

anymore. Music has added lyrics, bass, rhythm, and many layers of sounds. The addition of the

computer also had a big impact on the diversity of music and sound. Today, people hear a lot of

electronic music in places such as a club, party, or even on workout programs. Even though

music may be different as it once was, it is evident that music has always been a part of human

life and has always been a big part of the culture.

When listening to music, many parts of the brain are stimulated. Molly Edmonds from

HowStuffWorks states that as a song comes on, “our frontal lobe and temporal lobe begin

processing the sounds, with different brain cells working to decipher things like rhythm, pitch

and melody”. Listening to music stimulates parts of the brain that deal with emotion, cognition,

and movement skills. One of the main reasons that people enjoy music so much is a chemical

called dopamine. Dopamine is one of the chemicals that help transmit signals between the nerve

cells of the brain. So, when music enters our brains, it triggers the “pleasure centers that release

dopamine” (Ashford University). Without the release of dopamine, people wouldn't enjoy music

as they do now. The release of dopamine also correlates to a decrease in anxiety, pain, and

overall stress. According to Suzanne Boothby from Healthline, “A study in 2015 found that

people who listened to music before, during, or after surgery experienced less pain and anxiety
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compared to those who didn't listen to music”. Listening to music is such a key component to a

faster and easier recovery, not to mention all of the parts of the brain that are stimulated.

Figure 1. This image represents many parts of the brain that are affected by music and

gives a description of what each part does.

When it comes to music, there are lots of different genres with different messages. Each

person will have their own unique response to music, leading to many different music

preferences. Most people have a genre that connects with them and brightens their mood. It has

been proven that music can boost mood and enforce a happier mindset among people. Dean

Alban from Be Brain Fit shares that, “listening to and playing music reduces chronic stress by

lowering the stress hormone cortisol”. A study conducted in 2013 from The Journal of Positive

Psychology showed that the “participants were encouraged to try to improve their mood, but they

were only able to find success when they listened to happier music.” (AIMM). Music classified

as “happy” is an excellent place to start if someone wants to improve their mood. Listening to
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upbeat music will lead to feeling more in control of your life and the feeling of empowerment.

Suzanne Boothby from Healthline states that studies have shown that “sad music brings most

listeners pleasure and comfort”. So if someone was upset, listening to some sad music may help

them feel comforted. Whether people turn on a happy playlist or a sad one, music can connect

and build people's mood up.

There is a lot of research that has proven that music can result in higher productivity

levels. Scientist, Tottle, believes that the genre of music that results in the highest productivity

rates are classical music and sounds of nature. Tottle’s first reason to back up his statement is

that "there are no words, and this lowers the potential for distraction," (Business News Daily).

He also thinks that "these genres are actually able to boost your mood, increasing feelings of joy

and contentedness so that you feel more motivated and able to work" (Business News Daily).

Music is such a big part of everyday life, including work and simple tasks such as shopping.

When people walk into an office, there is most likely some subtle or classical music playing on

the intercom system. The reason behind that is to give the workers’ something to boost the

workers productivity. But, an even higher productivity rate is shown when a worker can listen to

their own preferred music taste. Shops will also have music playing to boost their customers to

stay focused on their products. All in all, music promotes a better working mentality and helps

boost focus.

Going back to the effects of dopamine, there is a definite correlation to music and energy.

Music has been justified to improve the quality of a workout due to its ability to put you in a

better mood. Music can also increase your stamina which will lead to a more intense workout.

Jenny Markell from the National Center for Health Research states that “When a song has a

strong, steady beat, for example, you can pedal or run to the beat of that music, which tends to
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feel satisfying and may inspire you to exercise more”. Music has thousands of different beats,

tones, and rhythms which provides people with many different options when they choose to

exercise. There have been many studies that show the tempo of the song will determine one's

level of energy. Faster songs will lead to a higher level due to the higher beats per minute.

Moving away from the physiological effects, there are some psychological effects that music has

on the human brain. Music will boost mood and will give a sense of pleasure and confidence. A

study was done to show why music might lead to a better mood while exercising. Jenny Markell

from the National Center for Health Research states that a study showed that “participants who

listened to music they deemed ‘pleasing’ had higher levels of serotonin, known as the ‘feel-

good’ hormone”. The increase in those serotonin levels will boost one's mood while exercising.

Generally speaking, music has shown a high correlation with increasing energy levels while

working out.

Music has also been used to motivate students to focus on their schoolwork and get more

done. When working on an assignment or homework, it is said that 87 percent of students prefer

to work while also listening to music. So when it comes to students, “music can provide an

energy boost and get your brain primed for learning” (Ashford University). Due to the dopamine

release, there can be a sense of joy for what students might be working on, which will motivate

them to keep working. Not only students, but teachers, employees, and any other workers tend to

be more open and motivated when listening to music. According to Teresa Lesiuk, a professor

that studies and teaches music education and music therapy at the University of Miami, “‘90

percent of the time’ people have positive experiences when listening to whatever kind of music

they prefer, and listening to that music often produces ‘mild, positive moods’” (Futurism). Being

in this state of mind opens up a higher level of focus and creativity. Music also “activates both
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the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximize

learning and improve memory,” says Dr. Masha Godkin from Northcentral University. Music is

a powerful source for opening the mind up to learning and staying focused.

Figure 2. This image presents a quick look into all the benefits that music can have on

humans.

Moving on to the more medical side of music and its benefits, there has been an increase

in the use of music therapy. According to the American Music Therapy Association, around the

time of World War 1 and World War 2, music therapy was used to treat thousands of veterans

that were suffering from the physical and emotional trauma that they had experienced from the

wars. Since there has been an amazing response to music, hospitals started to hire musicians to

play for the patients. This increase in demand led to the first music therapy degree program to be

established at Michigan State University in 1944. Music Therapy is the use of multiple musical

techniques in order to reach and accomplish individual goals. Being a music therapist would take

higher levels of college education, requiring a bachelor's degree. Although, there are also masters

degrees that are available. Music therapists would “assess emotional well-being, physical health,
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social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills through musical responses”

(AMTA). Music therapists would also have to design specific music sessions for their patients

“based on client needs using music improvisation, receptive music listening, songwriting, lyric

discussion, music and imagery, music performance, and learning through music” (AMTA).

Music therapy can also help with multiple forms of chronic conditions. For example,

music therapy can help those that suffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s, stroke, Parkinson's disease,

and multiple sclerosis. When it comes to music therapy, there are multiple different forms of

treatment depending on the illness. For Alzheimer’s, music therapy “offers a variety of benefits

at each stage of the disease” (Arbor Company). Alzheimer’s is a disease that attacks the brain

cells and leads to the degeneration and death of healthy brain cells. It causes a decline in

“thinking, behavioral and social skills that disrupts a person's ability to function

independently”(Mayo Clinic). There is no cure for this disease but music therapy has been

shown to help regain memory and cognitive skills. When an Alzheimer's patient hears music,

there is an immediate response. For example, they may perk up, sing, dance, or even clap their

hands. This is a remarkable thing since the disease will lead to a decline in the patient's interest

in their surroundings. The research was done at the University of California which showed “an

area of the brain which stores memories by linking them to familiar songs and the emotions

associated with those memories”(Arbor Company). This means music therapy can help unlock

forgotten memories and give the patients a look into their past.

Music therapy has also been portrayed to improve the quality of life for patients with

Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a disorder that affects the nervous system and

movement. Symptoms will start gradually, usually starting with a tremor in the hand. But as the

disorder progresses, it can result in stiffness or the slowing of any movement. When people that
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have Parkinson’s disease work alongside a music therapist, “they see improvements in

movement symptoms, speech, cognitive issues, and mental health”(Parkinson's Foundation).

Music therapy can improve balance, communication, cognitive skills, mental health, and social

isolation. When a person with Parkinson's disease goes through music therapy, they can

“anticipate his or her next movement and move in a more smooth and natural manner”

(EBSCOhost). Being able to control their own movements can be empowering and motivational.

Music therapy can also help with mood disorders. A study was done, involving 48 children with

aggressive behavior. 24 went through a fifteen-week program which was led by a music

therapist, while the other 24 children did not go through any therapy. After the program was

done, the 24 kids that “participated in the music therapy sessions demonstrated statistically

significant improvements in aggressive behavior and self-esteem” (EBSCOhost). Overall, music

therapy has been successful in helping people with illnesses.

Music has been incorporated in nursing homes to help the elderly cope with the

challenges that face them, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Many nursing homes have adopted

a program called Music and Memory. There was a national study to compare the outcomes of the

nursing homes that implemented this new program to the nursing homes that didn’t. According

to The Brown University evaluation, they discovered “that after homes adopted the program,

residents with dementia became significantly more likely to discontinue antipsychotic and

antianxiety medications and significantly less likely to engage in disruptive behaviors” (Brown

University). With the addition of music programs in nursing homes, there has been a decrease in

the medications needed.

Playing music also has a substantial impact on the brain. It has been proven that

“Musicians have bigger, better connected, more sensitive brains” (Be Brain Fit). Being a
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musician, you are exposed to music a lot more than the average person. This leads to musicians'

brains being “physically more symmetrical and they respond more symmetrically when listening

to music” (Be Brain Fit). Being a musician has many benefits and also allows for entertainment

options. Most people will end up attending some sort of concert within their lifespan. Concerts

are fun, enjoyable, and a great way to boost mood. Going to see someone's favorite artist sing

live, can increase dopamine levels, hence making people even happier.

On the contrary, some people believe that music is not beneficial to the human brain and

quality of life. Some think that teens with depression might consider suicide when listening to

sad music. Krystine Batcho from Psychology Today states that “Suicidal connections to lyrics

are not limited to a particular culture or musical genre”. Some songs have mentions of suicide,

drugs, abuse, and other hard topics. One song named Gloomy Sunday was removed from many

radio stations due to its reputation of being the “Hungarian suicide song”. The New York Times

had a report of a suicide that involved “a 13-year-old boy, found with the lyrics of Gloomy

Sunday in his pocket” (Psychology Today). This report had sparked many reasons that music

may be bad for humans. There has been some research that pointed out that some music “can

increase aggressive thoughts, or encourage crime” (CNN). Because the lyrics of some songs that

incorporate topics such as murder, drugs, robbery, etc, has given reason to believe that music can

cause aggressive thoughts.

Although music may cause some negative thoughts, the pros outweigh the cons. Music is

a great way to wind down and release all that built-up stress and anxiety. Music has come a long

way over the decades and has evolved to be even better. Without music, many tasks would seem

more daunting and long. Music has allowed for many new therapy techniques and allows for

many chronic illnesses to have a chance at relief. Many benefits follow music and music therapy.
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Whether it makes someone’s workout more intense and enjoyable, helps people tune in and

focus on a task, help regain lost memories, or even to relieve pain after surgery, music is a key

factor to happiness. In closing, music impacts many sections of the brain, which is proven to

improve mood, health, productivity, memory, and ability to cope with pain.

Works Cited

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AIMM, 2 Aug. 2019, www.aimm.edu/blog/how-does-music-affect-your-mood.

Alban, Dean. “How Music Affects the Brain.” Be Brain Fit, 16 Feb. 2020,

https://bebrainfit.com/music-brain/

“Alzheimer's Disease.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and

Research, 8 Dec. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-

disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447.
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“American Music Therapy Association.” FAQ's | Frequently Asked Questions | American

Music Therapy Association (AMTA), www.musictherapy.org/faq/#267.

Appello, Deborah A. ..MS. “Music Therapy.” Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health, 2019.

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