Impact of music on improving brain function & memory

Scientists have long noticed that listening to music can influence mental processes. The right melodies can stimulate productive brain activity.

In this article, we, along with writemyessay.me, analyze how music affects the human brain, whether it is possible to develop mental abilities and memory with the help of musical works, what to choose to listen to.

How the brain perceives sounds and music

Sound is a wave of mechanical vibrations in a certain space. Under the influence of air, it moves, hitting the eardrum. As a result, a person hears a certain sound. How music affects the brain depends on individual parameters. The same piece of music may affect different people differently, but there are some common mechanisms of influence.

The human brain consists of the right and left hemispheres. The right brain is responsible for the creative side of the personality, and the left brain is for logic and analytical thinking. The hemispheres are connected by a plexus of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum.

All processes going on around a person, in one way or another, affect his brain. When listening to music, there is an exchange of information between the right and left hemispheres. The melody activates the right hemisphere and the lyrics stimulate the left side of the brain. Scientists also found that a similar effect occurs when music is played in the imagination.

The principal effect of music on the brain depends on the nature and volume of the wave. Some waves are suitable for meditation activities, while others are suitable for energy replenishment.

When listening to music, you need to consider how individual waves affect the brain:

  1. Theta waves at 4-8 hertz are suitable for deep relaxation.
  2. Beta waves at 14-40 hertz are energizing and moody.
  3. Delta waves at 0-4 hertz provide deep sleep. They promote maximum relaxation.
  4. Alpha waves at 8-14 hertz are suitable for taking a break from work. They give a feeling of calm and relaxation.
What effect does music have on the human brain?

Studies have shown that only five percent of the world’s population is totally indifferent to music. This is due to abnormalities in the areas of the brain responsible for the processing of sounds. That is why this group of people does not produce hormones of pleasure.

In the remaining 95% of cases, music has a beneficial effect on brain function. It can get rid of depression and improve mood. Scientists link the love of music to the genetic ability to produce neurotransmitters. The more a person likes the melody he’s listening to, the more dopamine in his body.

Music and memory

In 2014, the movie Alive Inside was released. It told the story of a nursing home employee who decided to bring a music player to work. The main character wanted to test how music would affect patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The experiment showed that these people miraculously began to remember events from their past.

The plot of the movie was based on real events. In 2009, California scientists found the area of the brain responsible for the perception of music. It was found that when listening to certain songs, people can remember pleasant episodes of their lives.

Music and performance

Other experiments have proven that music can be used for brain function. But in this case, you need to know what kind of melodies have a tonic effect. Scientists in the Netherlands have concluded that cheerful music increases productivity and the ability to work in a team. Instrumental music has a similar effect on the brain. If the song has lyrics, it can, on the contrary, distract from work.

Music to improve brain function is especially useful for those who do monotonous work. If it is played in the background, at a lower volume, productivity will increase significantly. So if you’re going to write an essay, calm, quiet music in the background can be a good help for generating ideas.

American scientists came to this conclusion back in 1972. After 20 years, they sounded that the musical accompaniment has a positive effect on the work of surgeons. At the same time, rock music has come to be considered an excellent accompaniment to the solution of mathematical problems.

Music and creativity

Musical works cause theta and alpha wave oscillations in the brain. Creative people experience a sudden burst of creative inspiration when alpha waves oscillate. Theta waves have a similar effect but are responsible for the ability to relax.

In addition to this, the relationship between creative processes and the volume of music has been studied. Experiments showed that the desire to create is aroused by music as loud as 70 decibels. If the noise exceeds the 85-decibel mark, the effect will be the opposite.

Therapeutic properties of music

The benefits of music don’t end there. Playing musical instruments and singing are beneficial to motor skills. These activities help achieve a balance between the right and left hemispheres.

After long-term observation of seriously ill people, scientists concluded that music has a pain-relieving effect. It helped orthopedic patients recover faster. A survey showed that music lovers had significantly less pain after surgery than those who didn’t listen to music.

What kind of music improves brain function

Not every piece of music can have a positive effect on thought processes. For many years, researcher Teppo Särkyamö has tried to determine what kind of music develops the brain. He came to the conclusion that the work should evoke pleasant associations and not have irritating chords.

Classical

Classical music for brain work is called intellectual music. It is considered an effective tool for increasing productivity. Those who play musical instruments since childhood have the most flexible thinking. Even in old age, musicians are less susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease and the development of dementia.

Classical music for brain and memory development has the following properties:

  • forming a strong connection between the left and right hemispheres of the brain;
  • strengthening the neurons of the brain;
  • stimulating the development of mental abilities.

What is the “Mozart effect”

“The Mozart effect” is called the discovery made back in the 1990s of the twentieth century. According to it, the works of the famous composer increase the activity of the brain. This is due to the presence in the music of Mozart’s 20-30-second waves. Modern scientists believe that such an effect gives not only the music of Mozart, but also any other classical works.

Sounds of nature

Thinking processes are influenced by any extraneous noise, including the sounds of nature. They can both inhibit and activate the biochemical processes in the body. According to the principle of their effect on the brain, the sounds of nature are compared to classical music. They help to relax and prevent depression.

The following properties of the sounds of nature are distinguished:

  • increase efficiency;
  • concentration;
  • Positive changes in the autonomic nervous system.
How to listen to music properly

Music to improve brain and memory need to listen to a certain volume. The optimal level is considered 70 dB. Too loud music has a damaging effect on the nervous system. It is desirable to listen to music in such headphones that will protect you from extraneous sounds.

To get the maximum benefit from listening, it is worth giving preference to the sounds of nature or classical works. It is equally important to take care to create a comfortable environment. You need to sit in a comfortable position and abstract from what is happening around. It is especially useful to listen to music in between work or before going to bed.

Music for the development of the child’s mind and memory

Music has a useful effect on the brain of a child. Classical works have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and increase the speed of learning new skills. It is desirable for children to include calm tunes, without sudden changes in frequency and volume.

Classical music for the development of the brain in children – the guarantor of good taste preferences in the future. There is an opinion that classical works also have a positive effect on the formation of a child’s character. This does not mean that only classical music should be on the playlist. Any music that arouses a child’s sympathy has a beneficial effect.

Music for better brain function – an effective tool that works on several fronts at once. It orders the nervous system, increases efficiency and concentration. Regular listening to such music greatly improves the quality of life and develops the brain.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com