MUSIC AND ITS BENEFITS FOR HUMANS

 

Virtually all cultures of the world have their own music and folk songs. All humans love to listen to music or songs or sing and hum. We love to clap and sway with the music and also love to dance and tap our feet with it. It is something that gives us pleasure and we feel elevated and high after it. Sound and music affect human brains and moods positively. We like rhythm and repetition, tones, and tunes. But does this music have an advantage or any benefit for humans?

Music-the mood elevator and cognitive function improver

Various studies have shown that music tends to improve a person’s health and performance. Cognition and memory both improve. Thus, Music causes the Mozart effect. Researchers at the University of California in Irvine found that listening to music affects cognitive function and reasoning power. They made three groups of people: one group listened to 10 minutes of Mozart piano sonata and the second to a relaxation tape while the third had no music and was in silence. The IQ was best in the Mozart group and was better than the relaxation group and also better than classical music. Their short-term memory was also more.

Music has many benefits [Source: Pinterest]

How it helps? It probably acts on the right side of the brain and improves the firing of selected nerve cells. A 2010 review stated that playing a musical instrument increases the brain’s ability to master such tasks as language skills, memory, and attention. It also increases alertness and energy level of a person. It improves the quality of sleep too.

Music and stress and other benefits

British dramatist William Congreve had said:

"Music has charms to soothe a savage breast."

Music can calm and soothe and is healing. It can decrease the pain of surgery and stress of illness and emotional pain and trauma. Studies have shown that it lowers the blood levels of adrenaline (stress hormone) and increase the levels of happy hormones such as dopamine and serotonin. The inflammation-producing cytokine IL-6 is also decreased. Slow music can relax and person and decrease their heart rates and blood pressure.  

Music and humans [Source: Pinterest]

Other studies have shown that it also improves mobility in Parkinsonism patients and also helps stroke recovery. It aids heart and circulation and can boost cardiovascular function. Some studies have also revealed that music helps improve athletic function and performance. Plato had said:

"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything else."

But at the end of the day, it is also noted that musicians themselves have their anxieties and depressions and emotional liabilities despite being so close to music all day!!! Is an overdose of music bad?

Music and humans-the relation of benefits and happiness and love [Source: Alzheimer's Family Services Center]