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Music has
been shown to increase blood flow to
numerous regions of
the brain. More blood
flow typically equals
improved function,
and more music equals
more blood flow. The
Midbrain receives this
stimulation and is
responsible for visual
and auditory functions
as well as eye movement. Red nucleus and
substatia nigra in this
region are also connected with control of
body movement, which
may be why we cannot
help but bust a move
when we hear a tasty
beat. The Thalamus
likes music and is tied
to consciousness, sleep,
and alertness. The
Cerebellum also becomes activated when
responding to music
and this helps with improved motor control,
and cognitive functions
of attention, language,
and fear and pleasure.
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Music can
relieve stress. Trials
have demonstrated
music can be as effective in reducing
anxiety as drugs in
patients preparing for
or recovering from
surgery. Listening to
music has been shown
to lower heart rate,
blood pressure, and
induce sleep. Additionally, the midbrain,
mentioned earlier,
has a large number of
dopamine producing
neurons. The product of these neurons
interacts with pleasure receptors of the
brain, and one might
say people get high
on music in this way.
Sweet.
Reasons
T0 Push
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Mood Stabilization can be tied to
stress relief, but what
about the millions
who use music getting
amped up for a workout or the big game?
The same remedy for
insomnia can also be
applied to increased
energy and stamina?!
Amazing, but wait!
There’s more! Elderly
listeners report increased self-esteem,
and the structure of
music can provide
security while improving coordination
and communication
functions for disabled
and distressed populations. As if that were
not enough to have you
hitting play when you
feel down, music has
been credited with improved quality of life in
terminal patients. As
we live and die by the
same choked breath, let
us smile while doing so
with a song on our lips.
Play
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The human
Immune system responds to music on a
cellular level. Stress is
one of the key factors in
diminished resistance
to sickness. Research
by scientists at UCLA
has shown stress to
be largely linked to a
troublesome hormone
called Cortisol. Cortisol inhibits cellular
rejuvenation which
leads to physiological
breakdowns and exposes people to disease.
It is widely accepted
that music reduces the
amount of key stress
hormones and thereby
bolsters our immunity
against would be illnesses. Summation:
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Music has
become instrumental (pardon the pun)
with many group
therapy techniques.
In instances ranging from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, head trauma,
drug abuse, depression, and autism,
music has been
applied to focus the
patient’s attention,
along with many
other listed proven
benefits. Songs
often carry a story
or meaning and
such meditation
allows recipients of
music therapy to
effectively explore
their own emotions.
One’s interpretation of a song can
reflect matters in
their personal lives
which can then be
addressed on their
road to self healing.
As a final illustration of the importance of music in our lives, the New York writer Christian Nestell Bovee tells us,
“Music is the fourth great material-want, first food, then clothes, then shelter, then music.” This article is presented
to inspire thought and appreciation for the power of music, but there is an ocean of knowledge and research to compliment the broad strokes of this report. For further reading about how music can increase brain function, reduce
stress, stabilize moods, bolster the immune system, and even help mend a broken wing, please consider further
reading. Here are a few places to check out:
“The Power of Music to Reduce Stress,” By: Jane Collingwood. Published on Psychcentral.com
“The Neurochemistry of Music,” By: Chandra and Levitin. Can be found online by searching for “Trends in Cognitive Science, Volume 17, April 2013.”
Joe Averagi
”Music Helps Vets Control Symptoms of PTSD,” By: A.F. Swanson. Published online by WQXR.org
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