The Healing Power of Music: Exploring Its Impact on Brain Health

Celebrating the Brain-Music Connection: Insights into Healing Power of Music in Enhancing Mental Wellness, Learning, and Joyful Living

Introduction

For millennia, music has been a unifying force, bringing people together during both ordinary times and crises. In recent decades, scientific inquiry has increasingly turned toward the “universal language” of music, investigating its healing power on the brain and its potential to promote health and healing. Today, this interest is further fueled by new research initiatives and funding opportunities.

The Growing Interest in Music and Brain Health

In June, the Global Council on Brain Health released a significant report acknowledging the substantial potential of music to enhance brain health and overall well-being across different age groups and health conditions. This report also provided recommendations for future research in this field. Moreover, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with the Kennedy Center and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), allocated $20 million over five years to support 15 pioneering research projects, with several led by psychologists.

Music’s Positive Effects on Well-Being

Research indicates that music, whether listened to or performed, has a profound impact on the brain, potentially promoting health and helping manage symptoms of various diseases. The engagement with music triggers the activation of diverse brain structures associated with cognition, sensory perception, movement, and emotions, offering both physical and psychological benefits. Music’s influence extends to the release of neurotransmitters and hormones, which evoke emotional responses, memories, and social connections. Interestingly, music can even induce structural changes in the brain, with musicians displaying notable differences in certain brain structures, particularly among those who initiated musical training at a young age.

Recent research investigating the relationship between music and brain health, conducted by AARP, has unveiled intriguing insights into the healing power of music on emotional and cognitive wellness.

Impact of Music on the Brain

• Individuals who engage with music demonstrated heightened mental well-being scores and slightly reduced levels of anxiety and depression compared to the general population.
• Among survey participants attending musical events, a notable 69% rated their brain health as “excellent” or “very good.” In contrast, these percentages were 58% for past attendees and 52% for those who had never participated.
• Among those who had significant exposure to music during their childhood, 68% showed more ability to acquire new skills as “excellent” or “very good,” compared to 50% of those without early music exposure.
• Active engagement with music, even among individuals over 50, correlated with increased levels of happiness and vital cognitive function.
• Interestingly, adults lacking early exposure to music but engaging in music appreciation showcased above-average mental well-being scores.

Understanding the Neuroscience of Music

Psychologist Thomas Cheever, PhD, a key figure at the NIH and Sound Health program, expresses fascination with unraveling the intricacies of why music holds such captivation. Researchers are eager to identify the specific neural pathways affected by music, investigate its impact on children’s development, and explore how music interventions can benefit individuals with a wide range of physical and mental health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, delirium, and Parkinson’s disease.

Exploring Music’s Impact Across Age Groups

Emerging evidence suggests that music-based interventions have potential benefits for health conditions spanning childhood, adulthood, and old age. However, it’s essential to recognize that much of this research is in its preliminary stages, necessitating more comprehensive, scientifically rigorous studies to provide robust evidence of the effectiveness of music-based interventions for specific purposes.

Healing Power of Music Therapy: A Multifaceted Approach

Music therapy is a well-established health profession that utilizes music within therapeutic relationships to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. This therapeutic modality encompasses a range of activities, including music improvisation, listening, songwriting, performance, and educational experiences. Music therapists work in various settings, from hospitals and clinics to nursing homes, senior centers, rehabilitation facilities, and schools. It’s important to note that while some music-based interventions align with the principles of music therapy, others do not fit this specific definition.

The capacity of music to engage a diverse array of brain networks is evident. Beyond activating the auditory cortex near the ears, music stimulates emotion-related regions, leading to synchronization. Additionally, music triggers various memory-related areas and notably activates the motor system. Activating the brain’s motor system may even facilitate the recognition of music’s rhythm prior to physical response.

The Principle of “Use It or Lose It” The extensive brain engagement by music carries significant implications. The brain adheres to the principle of “use it or lose it,” whereby pathways and networks strengthen through use and weaken with neglect. This adaptive process reflects the brain’s efficiency—networks not in active use are repurposed. This concept explains why skills like speaking a forgotten language degrade over time due to disuse.

Considering the Potential Risks

While research generally indicates positive effects of music-based interventions, it’s important to be aware of potential risks associated with music. Listening to music at excessive volumes can contribute to noise-induced hearing loss. Additionally, certain music pieces or genres may evoke distress due to strong emotional associations. Extensive playing of musical instruments can lead to physical pain and injury. Furthermore, music-based physical activity interventions should be conducted with appropriate safety precautions to prevent injuries.

Enhancing Child Development through Music

A key area of ongoing research explores how music may impact children’s development, encompassing language skills, attention, perception, executive function, cognition, and social-emotional growth. Psychologist Assal Habibi, PhD, has spent seven years investigating these aspects in collaboration with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (YOLA). The study tracks brain and learning outcomes among 75 children participating in YOLA, a community sports program, or no after-school program. Early findings suggest that YOLA participants gradually develop auditory and cognitive advantages over their peers, along with improvements in various brain functions.

Music-Based Interventions for Health Conditions

Preliminary research indicates that music-based interventions hold promise in addressing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, and pain associated with various health conditions. Additionally, there is growing interest in exploring music’s therapeutic potential for individuals with severe mental health conditions.

How does music contribute to well-being, enhanced learning, cognitive stimulation, improved quality of life, and happiness? Music’s ability to activate numerous brain regions and networks is pivotal. According to some researchers,  music significantly contributes to well-being, learning, cognitive function, quality of life, and happiness. Apart from engaging in social activities, music is one of the few endeavors capable of activating a wide array of brain networks.

Incorporating Music into Daily Life Integrating music into daily routines is accessible and advantageous. The AARP survey underscores the most significant cognitive benefits among active music listeners, even those who primarily listen to background music reap advantages. Thus, playing music can impact mood, elevate spirits with uplifting melodies, and boost energy through lively compositions. Pairing music with aerobic and social activities maximizes its health benefits, such as participating in Zumba, jazz aerobics, or dancing. Even within a pandemic, virtual engagement in such activities can yield benefits.

Exploring Healing Power of Music on Mental Health

Recent studies have examined whether music can serve as a helpful therapy for individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and more severe mental health conditions. For example, research involving Chinese heart bypass surgery patients revealed that music therapy significantly reduced self-reported depression and anxiety levels. An AARP survey further supported the positive impact of music on mental well-being, reducing depression and anxiety in respondents.

Healing Power of Music Therapy in Older Adults

Researchers are keenly interested in investing the healing power of music therapy and its benefit for older adults. Studies have investigated its potential to improve verbal fluency and memory in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, singing in choirs has shown promise in reducing loneliness and increasing life satisfaction among diverse older adults. Music therapy has even been explored as a means of preventing falls in older adults with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.

Music as a Healing Tool for Recovery

Researchers are also investigating how music can aid individuals in their recovery from serious illnesses and conditions, including COVID-19. Pilot studies have shown that music can reduce the duration of delirium in patients on mechanical ventilators. Ongoing research is comparing the effects of slow-tempo music versus silence on participants with delirium, including COVID-19 patients on ventilators in Indianapolis hospitals.

Conclusion

Studies such as these underscore the healing power of music as a safe and effective medical intervention. The importance of further research into the types of music interventions that work best for specific individuals, circumstances, and applications cannot be overstated. Establishing a robust evidence base is essential to integrate music therapy into mainstream medical care for various conditions and indications.

Sources:

National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Music and Health: What You Need To Know. (https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/music-and-health-what-you-need-to-know). Accessed October 1, 2023

Schiffman, R. (2021). Healing Power of Music. The New York Times. (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/08/well/music-therapy-treatment-stress.html). Accessed October 3, 2023

American Psychological Association. (2020). Music’s power over our brains. (https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/11/news-music-power). Accessed September 29, 2023

Budson, E. A. (2020). Why music is good for the brain? (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-music-good-for-the-brain-2020100721062) Accessed August 28, 2023

Rainville, C. (2020). Music Nourishes and Delights. (https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/health/brain-health/brain-health-and-music.html). Accessed August 27, 2023