What is music?

Music was once described as “The universal language of mankind” by poet Henry Wadsworth. This may be one of the most truthful phrases ever spoken. Music shapes and heavily impacts each and every one of our lives, whether we realize it or not. However when we reach our teenage years, we often utilize music for our own pleasure; we no longer rely on it as a source of influence in our lives. But, what if we could take control of music’s effects on us? Well, we can.

Over vast periods of time, studies have been conducted on the influence of music on the human brain- and the results are fascinating. Not only can music further our ability to concentrate, it can also greatly improve our health. We’ve all experienced a feeling of joy at hearing our favorite song- or disgust at hearing, say, Justin Beiber. So although we understand that music can affect our mood, we often neglect to think about music’s effects on our bodies.

Listening to music increases natural dopamine levels in the human body, causing the listener to become more motivated. If one listens to music with others or to it being performed live, this can stimulate oxytocin in the human brain, which leads people to become both more trusting and trustworthy. Music can also be used to aid in treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. This is since musical memory tends to outlast personal memories, so playing a familiar song can helps boost patient’s morale and combat (to unknown extents) the disease. The music can also help to alleviate depression, anxiety, and agitation- while also improving brain function.

So put in those ear buds, crank those tunes, and as you listen, remember that you’re not just enjoying your music but improving your health as well!