“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.”

– Victor Hugo

Music transcends all barriers, be it language, region, or religion. Things that cannot be expressed through words can be captured musically. It is undeniable that music, through its varied arrangement of sounds, has a profound impact on our lives.

Have you ever wondered how music is able to evoke such powerful emotions in us? To understand this, we need to realize that music is a science. There is a mathematical structure to music. Broken into elements like pitch, rhythm, and tempo, music is a combination of varied sounds. The complex arrangement of simple sounds affects our brains and influences our moods.

Music triggers the release of dopamine, which is linked to feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. Additionally, studies show that our brains respond not only to familiar tunes but also to the anticipation of music, adding another layer to this emotional experience. No wonder our favorite songs have the power to uplift us even when we are at the lowest of lows.

Although many believe lyrics and melodies are the primary drivers of emotional responses, music’s impact is multifaceted. Beyond the words and tune, aspects like tempo and the listener’s mood also shape how we emotionally connect to music. Music activates the mirror neurons in our brains. This helps us to emulate the emotions that are projected by a musical composition.

Understandably, music has emerged to be the universal language of humanity. Let us have a look at a few of the many psychological and physiological effects of music.  

Music & Memory

Till my college days, I used to listen to music while studying. Even today, I play my favorite song when preparing for an exam. While some may find it distracting, many consider a pleasant background score to be a perfect accompaniment during intense memorization sessions. It is also noteworthy that people learning a new language may find it easier to learn new words and phrases by singing them instead of just speaking.

Music & Sleep

Insomnia is a serious issue that is plaguing the majority of the world population. Be it because of stress or the many stimulations of the modern era, we often find it difficult to sleep. Without sleep, our body stops performing effectively. It leads to many health concerns. While there are many ways to treat this, music has proven to be an effective means to help us sleep better. It is an affordable and safe remedy for insomnia. Listening to our favorite songs improves our quality of sleep. I believe this is why babies fall asleep at the tune of lullabies. 

Music & Pain Alleviation

Did you know that many hospitals play music before a patient undergoes surgery? In fact, many doctors have a soothing tune in the background in the operations theatre. This is because it is believed that music helps us manage pain. I can attest to this as when my toddler sister bumps her head, she instantly gets soothed when her favorite song is played.

Music & Motivation

Music has the unique power to motivate us. You will often find runners with a pair of headphones in their ears. Athletes practice to the tune of music. People who work out in the gym also prefer to exercise to musical beats. In fact, many of my friends say that they can exercise longer and harder while listening to high-tempo music.

Music & Emotions  

Music has a profound impact on our mood. Music leads to the secretion of dopamine and serotonin, which in turn, affects our mood. Different kinds of music evoke myriad emotions in us. Soft and slow music, like classical tunes, helps us deal with negative emotions. Upbeat music makes us happy and excited. Even sad music can uplift our mood through catharsis. You would be surprised to know that music leads to a shared emotional experience among people who sing together as their breathing synchronizes while performing.

Music & Depression  

Our generation is heavily afflicted with depression. Music therapy has emerged as a valuable tool in improving mental health, offering an accessible and low-cost option for those dealing with depression. Research suggests that when combined with traditional treatments, it can help alleviate symptoms and improve mood. Patients suffering from neurological conditions like dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease heavily benefit from music.

Music & Cognitive Performance

Many of us have the habit of playing music at low volume while we are engaged in some other work. My mother likes to listen to songs while cooking. My father always has a song playing on the record player while working. It is proven that music helps improve our performance on cognitive tasks. However, it is suggested to listen to instruments instead of songs with complex lyrics while primarily focusing on something else to avoid distractions.

Music & Stress Management

Research has shown us that music helps us manage and even reduce stress in some cases. Listening to music has proven to have a visible impact on the human stress response, especially the automatic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. High-frequency music lowers cortisol and increases oxytocin. It is no wonder that people who listen to music quickly recover from stress. Unsurprisingly, meditative music is trending nowadays. I always turn to my favorite song at the end of a tough day to wash away all the stress.

Music & Eating Habits

Music has the uncanny ability to influence the eating behavior of people. Enjoyable music heightens the taste of food. Also, dim lighting and mellow music prevent people from overeating. The tempo of music often determines our eating pace as well.

Music & the Heart  

While listening to music, our blood flows more easily. This reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, decreases cortisol (the hormone that causes stress), as well as increases serotonin and endorphin levels in the blood.

Conclusion

To conclude, music is not only a medium of entertainment. It is a powerful tool that inspires us. It motivates us to do our best and soothes our souls when we need it the most. Music even helps us to navigate our complex emotions. It has the ability to resonate with our emotions in complex ways. The impact that music has on us is both simple and complex. In fact, music’s influence on our lives is multifaceted. Unarguably, music is a key aspect of humanity as a whole.  

Sources

• Harvard Gazette: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/07/can-music-improve-our-health-and-quality-of-life/
• Oxford Academic – European Journal of Public Health: https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/33/4/738/7199198

Related Insights

“Music activates the brain’s reward system, which has a dramatic effect on mood and wellbeing. Dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, is released when you listen to music, which can increase motivation and pleasure, especially if the music you like. While relaxing music might assist reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels, upbeat music frequently improves mood and energy. Although this effect can differ from person to person, evidence generally supports it.

By stimulating the limbic system, especially the hippocampus and amygdala, which process memories and emotional reactions, music also arouses memories and emotions. This link emphasizes how music can have a very personal impact.

The evidence-based practice of music therapy is widely utilized to enhance mental health. It eases anxiety, promotes relaxation, and lessens depressive symptoms. Furthermore, music’s rhythmic components can align with brainwaves to promote concentration, awareness, and cognitive activity. Many people find that singing or playing an instrument while taking part in music promotes happiness, social interaction, and an enhanced sense of wellbeing.”

Contributed by Michael Chien, CEO/Marketing Director at 101 Karaoke

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“Music affects mood via rhythm, melody and tempo. A fast tempo can energize you and make you want to dance, even run. With softer, slower and gentler music the brain will release chemicals to reduce stress and allow you to relax. The chemicals are serotonin, and dopamine. A beautiful melody can release these chemicals and give you an overall feeling of well being; even change your mood after a hectic day at work. Music, in essence, is a natural pharmacy, capable of giving you chemicals to alter your mood.”

Barry Adelman, Co-Founder at Music for Humanity

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“There’s a profound and unique connection between music, well-being, healing, and mood. With over 35 years in the healing world and 13 years performing blues music, I’ve seen firsthand how music transforms the body and mind. As a singer, I know that music has the power to change physiology. But here’s the kicker: your physiology is influenced significantly by processes outside your conscious awareness. Think about it—do you have to consciously tell your liver what to do? No, because your body’s innate intelligence takes care of it. This wisdom directs every cell, every organ, every system.

The autonomic nervous system, which runs so much of what keeps us alive, is deeply influenced by our emotions. And every emotion has its own distinct physiological effects. Feeling inspired feels different from feeling glad, even though both are positive. On the flip side, worry—a fear of the future—feels different from regret, which is fear tied to the past. These subtle distinctions show how our emotions shape our physical state, though individual experiences may vary.

Identifying these feelings is the first step toward healing negative emotions. Emotions are the expression of our feelings, and when we name them, we can start to release them. That’s why after a breakup, we’re drawn to sad songs—they help us process the hurt. At celebrations, we crank up joyful, upbeat music to match the moment. Music connects directly to our emotions, allowing us to feel and release.

This is where the magic of the Blues comes in. The Blues gives us a way to identify with someone else’s struggles, offers melodies that match our feelings, and provides lyrics that articulate what’s in our hearts. It’s healing on a subconscious level, allowing us to move through the emotions we might otherwise suppress. While this healing power is universal to music, the Blues offers a particularly evocative experience for many.

Music isn’t just an art—it’s a science of the soul. It activates nearly every part of the brain, including the hippocampus and amygdala (which tie emotion and memory to music), the limbic system (pleasure, motivation, and reward), and even the motor system, which gets us moving.

In short, music evokes feelings, and those feelings shape our physiology. Whether it’s through a soulful Blues riff or an uplifting celebration anthem, music has the power to heal us from the inside out.”

Contributed by Dr. Tanya English, CEO of Quantum Healing International and Healing with the Blues

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“Our mood and general well-being are greatly impacted by music, which evokes feelings, evokes memories, and shapes bodily reactions. Music has a strong emotional processing effect on the limbic system of the brain. For example, listening to pleasant music might cause dopamine to be released, which promotes happiness and calm. But not all music is good; depressing or upsetting tunes can raise cortisol levels, which could result in increased stress.

Due to associative memory, which links particular songs to feelings or occasions, music also has a significant impact on memory. While gloomy melodies might arouse feelings of heartbreak or sorrow, upbeat sounds can take us back to happy times.

The bodily consequences of music are also noteworthy. While quiet melodies encourage relaxation and lower stress, fast-paced rhythms can raise heart rate and adrenaline. Singing or playing an instrument are examples of active musical engagement that can release endorphins, which improve happiness and wellbeing.

Music therapy has shown effectiveness in managing anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Regular exposure to uplifting music can boost happiness and improve overall well-being. In Ayurveda, principles of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas are said to govern emotional and energetic responses to different types of music.

In conclusion, music is a powerful tool for shaping emotions, influencing physical responses, and enhancing mental and physical health, helping us lead more balanced and fulfilling lives.”

Contributed by Dr. Saurabh Mirajkar, Ayurvedic Physician and Sleep Disorder Specialist at OrderYourSupplies

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