Music is one of life's pleasures. It has the power to influence a person's mood instantly. Listening to upbeat music can energize us in the morning and soothing tunes can help us unwind at the end of a stressful day. In addition to evoking powerful emotions, music also helps with the learning process and the formation of memories. Some researchers find that listening to baroque music, for example, is especially conducive to processing information, because it engages neuronal activities on both sides of the brain. Irrespective of individual music tastes and preferences, hearing a familiar song causes the region in the brain that handles memories and emotions to light up. Strongly associated with the brain's rewards system, music can induce a strong dopamine rush. It only takes seconds for a person to perceive happiness, anger, disgust, surprise, sadness, or fear in unknown musical segments, as described in a study by the Department of Music Therapy of Heidelberg University and the German Center for Music Therapy Research. From cognitive to motor reactions, music-supported therapy can also help with rehabilitation after strokes or with providing relief for tinnitus patients. Are you interested in learning more? Stefan Koelsch's book, Brain and Music, provides a comprehensive survey of the latest neuroscientific research on the effects of music on the brain.
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