Isn’t it interesting how hearing a particular song can bring back a special memory or make you feel happy or calm or pumped up? People are born with the ability to tell the difference between music and noise. Our brains have different pathways for processing different parts of music, including pitch, melody, rhythm, and tempo, and fast music can increase your heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure, while slower music tends to have the opposite effect.
Music can make us feel strong emotions, such as joy, sadness, or fear. Some will agree that it has the power to move us. According to some researchers, music may even have the ability to improve our health and well-being.
Improves mood:
Studies show that listening to music can benefit overall well-being, help regulate emotions, and create happiness and relaxation in everyday life.
Reduces stress:
Listening to ‘relaxing’ music has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in healthy people and people undergoing medical procedures, for example, surgery, dental, colonoscopy.
Improves exercise:
Studies suggest that music can enhance the aerobic exercise, boost mental and physical stimulation, and increase overall performance.
Improves memory:
Research has shown that the repetitive elements of rhythm and melody help our brains form patterns that enhance memory. In a study of stroke survivors, listening to music helped them experience more verbal memory, less confusion, and better-focused attention.
Provides comfort:
Music therapy has also been used to help enhance communication, coping, and expression of feelings such as fear, loneliness, and anger in patients who have a serious illness, and who are in end-of-life care.
