How music affects our health

It improves mood, helps to remember the forgotten, the developing brain and not only.

Music stimulates various brain regions

Music and other sounds enter the ear in the form of sound waves. They create vibrations in the eardrum, which are converted into electrical signals. These signals of the auditory nerve reach the auditory cortex of the brain. And it decodes the sound into something recognizable and understandable to us.

Unlike other sounds, music not only affects the auditory cortex. By using fMRI, scientists have discovered that it acts on the area of ​​the brain associated with emotions memory and movement.

The latter is particularly interested scientists. The US National Institutes of Health examined the effect of music on patients with movement disorders. For example, Parkinson's disease. In this disease, people gradually lose their ability to move.

"Music with a certain rhythm can help people with Parkinson's disease to go," - says neuroscientist Robert Finkelstein (Robert Finkelstein), one of the leaders of the study.

There is also evidence that music is useful in Alzheimer's diseaseMusic, memory and mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease., dementiaDementia and music., Traumatic brain injuriesMusic-Based Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury., strokeMoving with music for stroke rehabilitation. and speech disordersFrom Singing to Speaking..

Playing a musical instrument develops a brain

It simultaneously stimulates different areas of the brain. This is especially useful for children and teens, whose brains are still being formed. Neuroscientists from Northwestern University in Illinois examinedMusic training for the development of auditory skills.How music training affects brain development. According to them, the music has a positive effect on the ability to learn, even if music lessons begin in high school.

"Adolescents in our study biological changes in the brain were found after two years of regular music lessons," - said Professor Nina Kraus (Nina Kraus).

This improves the learning skills of reading and writing. And the positive effect lasts for a long time.

"When you teach the brain to effectively respond to sounds, he continues to do so, even when the music lessons stopped, - says Kraus. - The longer you play a musical instrument, the more the brain is developing. "

In addition, it may protect against hearing loss. In old age, hearing all deteriorating. According to studiesMusicians have fine-tuned neural distinction of speech syllables., Musicians easier to disassemble the words of the interlocutor in a noisy environment.

Music therapy helps to overcome difficulties

Music therapists use rhythm and melody to help people recover abilities lost due to injury or disturbances in development. For example, people after a stroke can not speak but can sing the words. A joint listening to music helps to make contact with a relative who suffers from dementia.

Researchers from Indiana University uses music therapy to help children and adolescents with cancer. For example, in one experiment, they help patients to write lyrics and record the music video that is most important to them.

"Music therapy has helped them see their strengths and find ways to cope with the situation, strengthen the bond with family and friends, "- explains Robb Sheri (Sheri Robb), a music therapist and behavioral specialist intervention.

While scientists continue to study the effect of music on the brain, try to add it to your life. It improves mood, strengthen relationships with other people and even alleviate the symptoms of diseases.

"Think of music as well as in sports or nutrition - advises Nina Kraus. - To observe the benefit, listen to it regularly. Never too late to add to your life a little music. "

see also

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