In this article I will explain the 14 incredible benefits of listening to music in children and adults. Its effects observed at the cerebral, social and behavioral levels.
Music has been important for Homo Sapiens for thousands of years. It is not known exactly when the first song or melody was born. It is known that 40,000 years ago there were already flutes with several holes, like those found in excavations in the USA.
Benefits of listening to music
Currently, we often have it in our life and since we were born: in school, at home, in movie soundtracks, at weddings, in churches, ceremonies, sporting events.
Charles Darwin said that music initially helped humans find a mate. In his book The Origin of Man (1859), Darwin expressed that men and women. He was unable to express their love in words. He also did so through musical notes and rhythm, in the same way as birds.
14 Positive Benefits of listening to music
- Happiness.
- Prevents heart disease.
- Help to exercise.
- You feel chills (positive).
- Improve visual and verbal intelligence.
- Induce pleasurable emotions.
- Improve personal relationships.
- Can improve memory.
- Seeing others better.
- Could make part of the vision recover.
- Delays brain aging.
- Improves the quality of sleep.
- Reduces pain.
- It can help to learn better.
Happiness
The first benefits of listening to music is happiness. Research published in the journal “Journal of Positive Psychology” showed that listening to music can be an effective way to improve happiness. Particularly when combined with an intention to be happy.
The participants who listened to music while they intended to be happy, improved their happiness. While the participants who listened to music without intending to be happy, they did not improve.
Prevents heart disease
Surely, you’ve noticed that music can help reduce anxiety or stress. In fact, it has been shown to reduce the stress and anxiety associated with heart disease. An investigation showed that listening to music reduces heart rate, blood pressure and anxiety in heart patients.
Help to exercise
Researchers in the United Kingdom showed in a study that participants who listened to motivational music felt better during the exercise. In another study, the consumption of oxygen levels was measured while people listened to different musical rhythms while exercising on bicycles.
The results showed that when the rhythm was faster and synchronized with their movement, their bodies consumed oxygen more efficiently.
You feel chills (positive)
According to a study 90% of people feel chills in the spine when listening to music.
And the degree of chills depends on the personality. People who are open to the experience feel more chills. In addition, these people are more likely to play an instrument and to consider music as important in their lives.
Improve visual and verbal intelligence
That listening to Mozart increases intelligence if it is a myth of psychology. However, practicing the piano will improve your visual and verbal skills. This was demonstrated by a study published by researchers at the University of Massachusetts.
Induce pleasurable emotions
This is nothing new, but you will surprise that sad music also elevates mood. According to a study, sad music is enjoyable. Because it provokes a mixture of emotions, some positive and others negative.
In the words of the authors themselves:
“The results revealed that the sad music was perceived as more tragic, while the experiences of the participants who listened to the sad music were of romantic and joyful feelings. Therefore, participants perceive ambivalent emotions when they listen to sad music. “
Improve personal relationships
A study from the University of Oxford found that students who had extracurricular music classes reported higher school satisfaction in almost all areas of the school.
In the words of the authors of the research: ” The results suggest that studying music provides measurable social benefits. Students with extended music education generally more satisfied than students with a normal music education. “
Can improve memory
Enjoying music promotes the release of dopamine in the brain. It is linking to motivation and is involving in learning and memory. Patients who listened to music significantly improved verbal memory and focus of attention.
Seeing others better
According to a study by the University of London, listening to music for 15 seconds can change the way other people’s faces. Listening to just a little animated music makes the faces look happier. The same happens with sad music: when listening to sad music, we perceive the faces of others as sadder.
Therefore, people project the mood of the music that they listen to people’s faces.
Could make part of the vision recover
People who have strokes may lose vision in one part of their visual field.
Well, listening to classical music can improve the vision of patients who have had strokes and only have a field of vision. In the words of the study authors:
“Listening to classical music could improve visual attention in patients with unilateral vision.“
Delays brain aging
Research has also shown that listening to or playing music at maturity can help delay brain aging and keep you healthy. It also improve memory.
Improves the quality of sleep
Some of the common problems that interfere with sleep are stress and anxiety. Because music improves both. Research has shown that listening to music at certain times promotes quality of sleep.
Reduces pain
Music can reduce perceived pain, especially in geriatric, intensive or palliative care. 60 people with fibromyalgia assigned to listen to music once a day for 4 weeks. Compared to the group that did not listen to music, the group with music experienced pain reduction and fewer symptoms of depression.
It seems that the impact of music on dopamine levels could be one of the causes of this pain reduction.
It can help to learn better
Helen Neville and other researchers conducted an intervention in 2016 with children. The children were age three to five and see the effects of music as an academic support program.
The results showed that music as an academic support tool is as powerful as individualized support.
And what effects have you observed when listening to music? I hope, you enjoyed reading about Benefits of listening to music. Thank you!
