If there is one language that’s understood universally, it’s music. Period. Music is something that doesn’t need words for people to understand and feel emotionally connected. Regardless of our origins, music has the ability to unite people together as it creates a sense of unity. It just has this powerful ability to reach our soul and express things that words are unable to express. Here are three reasons why music is so important for humans and our life.
E M O T I O N S
Music can emotionally connect us in ways beyond human knowledge. Music has the power to evoke both joyful and miserable feelings, depending on the way the neurons in your brain respond to it. Positive and pleasurable feelings dominate the musical experience, as it provides this feeling of adrenaline to many parts of the brain. This is known as musical anhedonia. Studies suggest that the way one responds to a piece of music determines the state of their emotional health and well-being. Feelings just happen when we process the lyrics, think about them and how it might relate to our personal lives and life experiences. So, the next time you feel high or start bursting into tears when you listen to a song, be grateful for how easily accessible music is!
M E M O R Y
Did you know that music isn’t just for retrieving stored memories but for laying down new ones too? The brain reactivates speech, reasoning, and memory when music is being played allowing us to recall certain events and experiences. How cool is that? The effect of music on memory is that it disengages the present from the past, while performing its normal functions. I can 100 percent bet that you remember the lyrics to your favorite song much better than an article you read yesterday. That’s how powerful music and its lyrics stimulate our mind and stay there, depending on how much you enjoyed the song. In a recent study at Harvard University, they found that 60 percent of elders in nursing homes were able to recall events of the past that they couldn't remember while classical music was being played. This is a form of musical therapy. This goes to show that music affects memory no matter the age!
M E N T A L H E A L T H
Music, as we know, is a pretty powerful mechanism to the brain. It can also enhance our mental health, as it boosts the immune system and reduces stress and cortisol levels. This provides a calming effect on the brain which may temporarily reduce stress, anxiety, and other emotions. This may increase our self-esteem and confidence levels as well as it can boost, drop or relax our mood depending on the type of music that’s listened to. This isn’t my opinion- it’s the facts. A dozen evidence based therapies have suggested that music surely benefits people that suffer from anxiety and depression. Another thing to be noted is that these trials have not resulted in any negative side-effects and that music therapy is a low-risk treatment. The most highly publicized music for mental health would be Mozart’s music and I highly recommend it!
Music can relax the mind, keep you cheerful, and put you to sleep. It’s just so powerful yet accessible but many simply don't realize how valuable music is and how it has impacted everyone’s lives.