Music has long been used as a source of comfort and solace in times of distress. It can provide a sense of connection, support, and understanding during difficult moments. The history of music in healthcare has shown that music can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and even chronic physical pain. Listening to calming music can help people relax and focus on the present moment.
Studies by scientists have also found that listening to music helps release endorphins – hormones associated with pleasure (and reducing pain) – which further reduces stress levels and may even aid in the healing process.
Music is often used in therapy sessions for this reason; it helps create an atmosphere and an emotion conducive to stress relief and healing emotional wounds. In addition to reducing stress levels, music can also be used as a form of self-expression or communication when words fail us.
Listening to uplifting songs or singing along with them can help boost our moods by increasing serotonin levels in the brain – the neurotransmitter responsible for regulating our emotions and feelings of happiness or sadness.
Research has shown that listening to music can increase the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This release can lead to feelings of happiness and enjoyment, which are often accompanied by the release of endorphins. The study cited above by McGill University found that dopamine levels were higher when participants listened to music they enjoyed, indicating a strong link between music and the brain’s reward system.
Research in the science of musical therapies has also suggested that certain types of music may improve cognitive function by stimulating areas in the brain related to memory recall and learning new skills faster than usual. Studies have shown that music can enhance connectivity between the auditory and emotional regions of the brain, which can facilitate memory encoding and recall.
Music is a powerful tool that can have a positive impact, bringing solace and joy to those facing difficult times. Continue reading from Harmony & Healing
Harnessing the Healing Power of Music (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
Music and Health: What You Need to Know (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
The History of Healing by Music (Children's Music Fund)
How Music Affects Memory in Those with Dementia (Brain&Life)
Healing Through Music (Harvard Health Blog)
Music, Medicine, Healing, and the Genome Project (Psychiatry)
The Healing Power of Music (NPR Illinois)
Healing with Music Video Series (Princeton University Concerts)
How Music Can Literally Heal the Heart (Scientific American)
Connecting Music and Mind with Singer Renee Fleming (Brain&life Podcast)
Singer Renée Fleming Shares the Healing Power of Music (Brain&Life)
Music and the Mind: A Conversation with Renee Fleming (Stanford Medicine)
For the Sick and Dying, Live Music to Ease the Pain (New York Times)
How Music Helps People Heal: The Therapeutic Power of Music (Harmony & Healing)
