Music’s Effect on the Brain
Music drives us. It calms us. It can ramp us up or cool us down. Music can cause us to return to memories long since forgotten. In fact, music and music therapy have been found to be great tools for patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.1
But, how?
How can something so simple, yet so complexly beautiful, speak to us on such a primal level?
And how can we harness the power of music to improve our health?
The playwright, William Congreve, wrote in 1967 “Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast, To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.”2 While often misquoted and truncated to only say “music soothes the savage beast,” the overall meaning holds true to the original. What’s more, the unremembered part of the quote shows the depths to which music affects all life. Yes, there is a mathematical quality to music and there is a science behind tonality and chordality, but there is something deeper. Regardless of the many thoughts on why humans respond so profoundly to music– the fact remains that we do.
Music’s Effect on the Brain
Music triggers the release of dopamine when we hear it. This “happy” chemical helps to modulate our emotions and put us in a better frame of mind. Studies have shown that the brain can anticipate particular areas in familiar songs and prepare for the dopamine rush in advance.3 The brain becomes so good at anticipating the effects of music that a “musical addiction” can be formed. Unlike a substance addiction, there are likely no ill effects, although that can also depend on the type of music consumed.4
Clearly, music can play a critical role in everyday life. Even more surprisingly, music can stimulate the production of antibodies and boost our immune system. But what is most interesting about music and the brain is that not only does it make you feel good but it can generate changes in the brain leading to increased neural connections and abilities to adapt to new situations.4
Being an active participant in music comes with added benefits. Learning to play an instrument can increase development in certain areas of the brain which can lead to improvements in audio processing, learning, and memory. Singing can improve communication and provides an additional method by which one can express themself to others. It can also improve psychological well-being and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression or as Congreve said “sooth the savage breast”.4
Beyond the obvious cognitive benefits, research has shown that music interacts with the limbic system in the brain which explains why emotions are so strongly tied to music.5 This explains why music can calm, excite, frighten, and enrage us.6
Even Plato identified that different types of music would elicit different physical, mental, and emotional responses. SK Langer, an American philosopher and writer active in the mid-20th century, wrote prolifically about the arts and especially music. She believed that music ‘reveals the nature of feelings with a detail and truth that language cannot approach.’ Perhaps, this is why music speaks to us even in the absence of words?6 And moreso, maybe this is why it is a useful tool for those struggling with memory loss.
Music and Alzheimer’s
Music speaks to us on a deeper level. Of course, cognitively we can hear a song and remember the tune and words, but in cases of dementia memory can become so impaired that even family and friends are forgotten. So, how does music therapy benefit those with memory issues? As already mentioned, music speaks to our emotions which do not necessarily rely on concrete memories. Just as “musick can sooth the savage breast” and calm one when they are angry, it has also been shown to decrease agitation and promote better caregiver relationships and communication when interacting with a loved one with dementia.1
Dr. Borna Bonakdarpour of Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Illinois states that musical interventions can help bridge the networking gaps in the brain that may lead to decreased communication, poor balance, and unusual behaviors. Communication can be positively impacted by singing and walking can become more smooth and balanced if exposed to the rhythm of music. Due to the natural progression of Alzheimer's specifically, in which memories of music are some of the last to fade, stimulating this neural network can enhance other previously weakened skills, including social and behavioral ones.1
Working with a trained music therapist can help facilitate an effective use of music to restore peace, even if only temporarily, to both those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s (or other dementia) and their caregivers.4 Communication, which was previously thought lost, can be somewhat restored and a small measure of normalcy enjoyed. As Dr. Bonakdarpour has said “caregivers find the person lost to them in the context of music.”1
Does the Type of Music Matter?
Indubitably, yes. Much research has been done on the effect of various musical genres on brain cell development. Perhaps this is best described by Dr. Neil Nedley as stated in Depression: The Way Out. He describes classical music as soothing and healing while hard rock is damaging to the frontal lobe.7,8
Classical music can help regulate the pulse and heart rate, helping us relax. Concentration and memory are also improved. This is due in large part to the activation of both brain hemispheres and the predominance of alpha waves in the brain. Alpha waves, which are responsible for learning and creativity, occur in an awake and restful state. 7,8,9
On the other hand, hard driving music (like hard rock) can destroy hearing, reduce learning, and lead to anger, aggression, and other “bad” behaviors. While there is debate over hard rock being able to cook eggs, clearly we need to be careful with what we listen to.7,8,10
Conclusions
So, what does this mean for us? Simply put, music can have a profound effect on the brain. Whether or not that effect is good or bad may depend on the type of music. However, music speaks to us on a deeper level and its consequence should not be underestimated.
References
Northwestern Medicine. Music as medicine for alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Northwestern Medicine. Accessed January 16, 2025. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/emotional-health/music-as-medicine-alzheimers-dementia
Team AM. What does "music soothe the savage beast mean? The Ambient Mixer Blog. July 20, 2017. Accessed January 16, 2025. https://blog.ambient-mixer.com/sound/what-does-music-soothe-the-savage-beast-mean/
The University of Arizona Global Campus. How Does Music Affect Your Brain? December 8, 2021. https://www.uagc.edu/blog/how-does-music-affect-your-brain#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20first%20things,with%20an%20early%20dopamine%20rush.
Welsh National Opera. How singing affects the brain. WNO. January 15, 2025. Accessed January 16, 2025. https://wno.org.uk/news/how-singing-affects-the-brain
Toader C, Tataru CP, Florian IA, et al. Cognitive crescendo: how music shapes the brain’s structure and function. Brain Sci. 2023;13(10):1390. doi:10.3390/brainsci13101390
Trimble M, Hesdorffer D. Music and the brain: the neuroscience of music and musical appreciation. BJPsych Int. 2017;14(2):28-31. Accessed January 16, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5618809/
Music and its effects. Accessed January 16, 2025. http://www.thelifemanagementalliance.com/Psychological/ThinkingBrain/MusicEffect.html
Nedley N. Depression: The Way Out. Nedley Pub; 2001.
Cherry K. What effect do alpha brain waves have on depression? Verywell Mind. Accessed January 16, 2025. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-alpha-brain-waves-5113721
Adams C. Rock music cannot cook eggs. Washington City Paper. April 30, 2010. Accessed January 16, 2025. http://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/225089/rock-music-cannot-cook-eggs/
