Music as an Effective Way to Treat Mental Illness and Disorders

The sound of music can be heard practically everywhere people go. Until recent years it was thought of as just an ordinary part of life but it’s so much more than that. Music has been seen as useful in many areas of life. Research and studies have shown that music affects people’s brains therefore affecting them mentally, physically, and socially.

What is Neuromusicology

Neuromusicology is the scientific name for the study of music’s effect on the brain. Dr Kiminobu Sugaya used an MRI machine to watch the brains activity while listening to music.

He found out that every section of the brain lit up which means it showed activity. Each part of the brain has its own purpose and listening to music can increase the functions. The frontal lobe which is most important part of brain had increased functions when music was heard. The temporal lobe processes what is heard. The Broca's area is what enables singing and ability to play an instrument.

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The Wernicke area analyzes music to make it enjoyable. The cerebellum is what helps remember music. When the nucleus accumbens is responsive it releases dopamine, which is a chemical in the brain that gives feelings of pleasure. The Hippocampus produces neurons that help the memory. The Putamen processes rhythm helping with coordination. Based on his findings there are a lot of beneficial things activated and enhanced while listening to music.

The Effects of Different Musical Styles

Different genres of music can have different effects when looked at on group a basis.

Studies done by Dr John Burdette showed group reactions to listening to different genres of music. He found classical music aids memory and learning abilities. Rap music boosts motivation and increases language skills. Jazz had an overall soothing effect. Heavy metal gave listeners an improved sense of self and community. Pop music gave increased levels of energy and higher endurance. Even if a certain type of music isn’t liked by the listener the sounds can still be having an overall effect on them.

When done individually the genre or style of music had their own individual effects based on the person’s preferences. Dr. Burdette continued his study on an individual basis. The results showed that when people were listening to music they liked brain activity was high and, dopamine,a pleasure chemical in the brain, was released. When the music being listened to was unliked the activity was lower and could produce cortisol which is a chemical that causes bad feelings. Favorite songs had the highest activity and produced extra chemical releases of oxytocin which also gives good feelings. In this case whether or not the music was liked made bigger differences so individual choices and preferences can indicate what reaction takes place upon the listener.

Music in Education and Therapy

Most elementary school children are taught with songs. So, when it comes to education, music incorporation can make big differences. School aged children were examined and tested with and without music as a part of the way they learned. The results of the “with music” showed much improvement compared to the results of 'without music.' 90% of the IQ scores went up. The children's creativity and ability to think more abstractly was enhanced. Their focus and memorization skills were also much better. The high percentage of increase and other positive reactions are a good indicators that music is helpful in the classroom.

In the medical field music has been applied as a form of therapy. The Music Therapy Association uses music as a form of therapy to help people with neurological ailments, which are brain related illnesses, and also mental disorders. When Alzheimer's patients were given music therapy it helped their memory and even made some start singing. Parkinson's patients were also given music therapy and it helped with their tremors and shaking. People affected by strokes had improved balance and coordination when the therapy was applied. Dopamine and oxytocin are chemicals released in brain when listening to music. Oxytocin helps with trust and socialization, Dopamine gives feelings of pleasure. The release of the two positive chemicals is helpful to people suffering with depression, anxiety and, PTSD. All of the positive results could make the use of musical therapies a more wide spread idea and a practice added to patients treatment plans.

Sometimes music can even have a determining factor in the choices we make and the way we act. By using restaurants and workplaces the differences of environments with and without background music were examined. Background music is played low enough to not be distracting but high enough to be heard. In the cases with music restaurant customers left bigger tips, cleaner tables and complained less. In the workplace people got along better, had higher productivity and overall morale. Background music is generally taken for granted and not given much mind but has unconscious effects on moods and behaviors.

People of all kinds can benefit from listening to music. Children can learn easier with music inclusion. Sick people can alleviate some of their symptoms with musical therapies. People can get along better in the workplace. Society can be kinder in their choices making quality of life better for all. It may not be a cure, and may not save the world, but music has many purposes for those who take the time to use it to their benefit.