By Lucky Felder
Music can be a source of emotional expression, a tool for focus, or a stress reliever, among its other endless uses. It guides us through everyday life, diverging into countless varieties and genres, ultimately providing something to satisfy each person’s unique tastes. To most, it probably doesn’t occur that while bonding over shared musical interests or blasting a go-to hype song to cheer up, there’s a scientific process happening behind the scenes, in your brain. The specific traits of each genre—speed, melody, rhythm, and lyrics, to name a few—all change how we perceive what we’re hearing, and correspond to different feedback from our minds.
To start, what happens in the brain when a person listens to music? Let’s strip away lyrics and solely focus on acoustics. As waves are carried into the ears, eventually reaching what’s called the temporal lobe, the sounds are evaluated and identified as familiar or unfamiliar. It’s this identification that determines what response is triggered. In turn, this response influences our nervous system, which controls core processes like heart rate and breathing. The first dive into a completely new genre might be uncomfortable, as the unfamiliar elements foster a negative feeling. However, it may be beneficial to continue exploring, despite the initial reaction that the genre definitely doesn’t seem like your vibe. It’s very common for songs to “grow on you” as increased exposure to the sound induces familiarity in the brain.
Naturally, each individual is affected differently by their music of choice. Some may prefer to stick with upbeat songs that lighten their mood, while others are content to keep their playlist of slow, calm songs all year round. As previously mentioned, this comfort stems from music that is recognizable and familiar, whether it may come from childhood memories, a favorite playlist, or the radio. However, comfort may not always be the desired outcome. For example, if the goal is to focus, is there a specific set of sounds that will help to clear the mind, no matter the person’s musical preferences? Music is often used as a powerful tool, applying to areas like education, healthcare, and general wellbeing.
Triggering an increase of dopamine and serotonin, while limiting the amount of cortisol (the hormone that leads to stress), music can engage many functions, including sensory motor processing, memory, cognition, and emotions. Not only does music increase awareness at the moment it’s being listened to, but also, “studies have shown its positive effects on social bonding, cognitive abilities, and language processing.” Experiencing music, or even better, engaging in it by producing or creating songs, is a transformative process that can reshape the brain.
Overall, the effect music has on our behavior and mental state goes much deeper than one might think. To close, here are some useful ways you can apply music to reach your goals in everyday life:
- If there’s a task that requires your focus, try listening to simple classical or lo-fi music. Without lyrics or exciting instrumentals to distract, your brain can block outside noise while entering a state of concentration.
- For someone who has trouble falling asleep, slow, ambient music, preferably in the range of 60-80 beats per minute, may be beneficial. The low speed works to lower heart rate, increasing relaxation and signaling to the brain that it’s time to rest.
- Do you need a beat to get you pumped up on a sluggish Monday morning or motivation to exercise? For this purpose, you’ll want to stick to upbeat, high-energy songs with lyrics that speak to you.