The Effects of Listening to Music on Our Body

This is a guest article sent to us by an anonymous user.

There is nothing like listening to good old music to calm your nerves or to get you in an even more elated state than you already are in some of the most happiest moments of your life. Turning to music is one of the most primitive reactions of an average person.

No one is alien to the fact, that when we feel down or saddened, our feelings are most soothed by listening to slow, soft music which usually is written on a sad note. Similarly when excited or in a party, our body craves to move on rhythmic beats accompanied by loud music. And it is therefore no wonder that romantic movies are best accompanied by some of the most popular love lyrics.

But this is a craving exhibited by our body that knows no scientific laws and is therefore part of the most innate natures of mankind. Now, however, when science sees no limits when exploring in new aspects of the human brain and mind, research has unravelled the mysteries of how music really affects the brain and its psyche. So buckle up to find the true ways of how music affects our body.

A new branch of health care, known as Music Therapy has been evolved after research confirmed that not only does music affect the brain's cognitive functions, it can even be used for therapeutic purposes in patients suffering from chronic to general ailments. So far experts have used Music therapy to help kids suffering from ADD, patients going through painful recovery, patients suffering from mild to chronic depression, those whose bodies are showing restricted movements and even cancer patients.

Music can have a varying effect on different people and is therefore varyingly used by experts on these patients. To help understand better, let's look at what are the different effects music has on the human body.

The Effects on Brain

The beat of the music can actually stimulate the waves in the brain in sync with the music beat. So that the relatively faster beats, can instigate sharper thinking modes and similarly slow music can promote calmness in the brain. This ability of the music can be used to a great advantage. For instance, the brain could be stimulated to a state with the help of the music and it is going to stay there for a long time after the music has stopped.

The Effects on the Heart and Breathing

Just as the brain waves are stimulated with the help of the music, other bodily functions are also affected by listening to different sorts of music. The autonomic nervous system in the body can bring about a few changes of its own when a person listens to music. Some of the changes that it can bring are reduced rate of breathing and reduced heart rate bringing about a totally relaxed bodily response. Therefore, listening to soothing music can relieve stress.

Miscellaneous Effects

Some of the other effects that have been revealed through research and experimentation are a positive state of mind, lowered blood pressure and a general reduction in the risk of some heart diseases.