RISE Blog | Mood Music: Songs & Science

By: Amy McPherson, Peer Educator
January 24th, 2022

Soundwaves. Brainwaves. Each affecting the other like the motion of an emotional ocean; the tides of music crashing against the aural plane. Music affects the brain, the body, and the connection between both in every listener. Understanding how music alters mental and physical body mechanisms and its positive impact can improve one's quality of life.

Music influences mood, memory, and attention by jumpstarting the neocortex portion of the brain. The neocortex is responsible for controlling impulsivity and placating upset feelings. When listening to a favorite song, the repetitive lyric and chord structure acts as an aural pacifier: soothing the listener into focusing on the music and the beat instead of whatever the person was thinking about before putting on their headphones.

Listening isn't the only way to reap the benefits of music. Making music through any instrument involves more brain structures (more brain involvement = more mental benefits! #winwin). Dusting off that old guitar or busting out your vocal pipes gives opportunity for the body to be fully utilized in conjunction with the brain during any music-making session. Whether you perform for your neighborhood, partner, or your bathroom mirror, making music in any capacity helps kickstart creativity, cultivate a better attitude, and increase the motor connections between the brain and body.

Groovin' and movin' to music is good for your body, too! From casually dancing at home to full-on jamming out at a cardio dance class, coupling exercise to listening to music adds a new dimension of health benefits. Lower blood pressure, decreased anxiety, and even less pain accompany listening and boppin' to beats.

 

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