Sunday, July 24, 2011
The types of music that cause these effects on the brain are mostly agressive forms of music such as heavy rock or rap. The specific type of beat may be at fault. It could also be attributed to the fact that too much repetition leads to feelings of anger and hostility.
To achieve positive effects of music on the brain, music must have certain attributes. It needs to be fairly complex to involve more of the brain in the activity and keep the person interested. New and different music is another factor that keeps the brain active and not bored.
To achieve positive effects of music on the brain, music must have certain attributes. It needs to be fairly complex to involve more of the brain in the activity and keep the person interested. New and different music is another factor that keeps the brain active and not bored.
Negative Effects
Not all the effects of music on the brain are positive however. Some types of music can cause the brain to lose it's symmetry between it's right and left halves, or hemispheres. We've all experienced this, when trying to concentrate on a task while loud or otherwise disruptive music is being played. Ask any teacher and they'll tell you that this can lead to learning disabilities and behavior disruptions in children. It can likewise generate diminished work capabilities in adults.Music and Brain Disease
Alzheimer's patients have also been shown to benefit mentally from listening to music. Listening to music triggered certain memories to be recalled that had been otherwise forgotten. Parkinson's patients also benefitted from the effects of music on the brain. Motor skills seemed to improve when some patients were better able to walk while music was being played.Music and Testing
In one study, data was analyzed as to the benefits of listening to music of different genres (classical or jazz) and tempos. Results did not differ that much from one type of music to the next. However, when the tempo was changed from learning time to testing time, the test results suffered. It seems that people recall information much better when music is played at the same speed as when they originally learned it.
There was a study conducted to test the effects of music on the brains of college students. This study looked at the effects of listening to Mozart before taking an IQ test. Among three groups, one listening to relaxation tapes and one listening to nothing, the group listening to Mozart had the highest average score.
Effects Of Music On The Brain
It has long been obvious that music affects people profoundly. What is new, though, is that research is being conducted to determine the effects of music on the brain. Through this research much has been learned about the effects of music on brain function.
It has been shown over and over again that one of the strongest effects of music on the brain is in the area of memory. Students of foreign languages were shown to be able to learn hundreds of vocabulary items in one day when listening to appropriate music. What is more, they remembered the words over time at a level of 92% retention. This feat was accomplished with the use of baroque classical music. The tempo was the most successful at a steady rate of 60 beats per minute. At this tempo, people seemed to remember the most. This was one of the interesting effects of music on the brain.
Theories/Speculation
However, Connie Tomaino of the Institute for Music and Neurological Function points out that everyone is "pre-wired to be receptive to rhythm" because a developing fetus can already distinguish sound pattern changes. Tomaino speculates that we are born with this receptivity to sound so that we can learn from and interpret the world surrounding us.Musicians
Studies that have included both musicians and nonmusicians have found that the affects of music on heart rate is higher among musicians. University of Oxford researcher Dr. Peter Sleight speculates that the more pronounced results among musicians happens because they have been trained to coordinate their breath with musical rhythms.Research
A 2006 randomized controlled trial conducted by researchers at the University of California, School of Nursing, in San Francisco found that among 170 patients about to undergo vascular angiography, those who listened to 15 minutes of relaxing music had a significantly slower heart beat than those who waited in silence for 15 minutes. A 2009 Cochrane Systematic Review of 23 studies involving nearly 1,500 patients found that heart rate and blood pressure were reduced among heart disease patients who listened to music.
However, the study in the UK uncovered no links between babies listening to music and increased intelligence or brain development. Another experiment at the University of California at Irvine compared the puzzle-solving abilities of 3-year-olds who were given piano lessons with the ability of others who sang, used computers, or did nothing. The children studying piano were better at the puzzles. Also, high school students with a musical background seem to do better on their SATs. (Cromie, “How Your Brain Listens to Music”) Whether it’s natural intelligence that helps the children excel in both music and math, or the music that helps develop other areas, you can’t deny the benefits of a musical background.
A study done in the United Kingdom concluded that children are able to recognize and even prefer music that they had heard while in the womb up to three months before birth. Although the genera of music made no difference, the babies who were exposed to songs with a faster tempo showed a stronger preference for that song than those who had heard something slower. (”Babies Remember Music Heard in the Womb”) Researchers have also found that the playing of soft background music or a mother’s humming actually helps premature babies. Those who are subjected to the music tend to gain weight faster and are able to leave hospitals earlier than those who aren’t. (Cromie, “Music on the Brain”)
Learn about music. Find out who wrote the pieces you like to listen to and when. What was going on in the rest of the world at the time the melody was written? Does it reflect what was happening at the time or could it have been used as an 'escape' - a more pleasant alternative than what current events dictated?
Putting more music in your life is a powerfully enriching tool. But other than turning on the car radio in our busy lives, what other ways can we do this? One way to do this is to take advantage of your public library's collection of music. It's fine to have a personal favorite type of music such as rock, or jazz, but discover other music you may have not thought of. Try country music. And if you decide you don't like that, try opera or alternative music. You won't believe how many types of music you're going to find once you start looking. You don't have to like it. Just learn to appreciate it on its own.
Have you ever heard the saying, 'Music soothes the savage beast?' It's true. Music can calm and revitalize us in ways even a lengthy nap can't. Music holds the power to elevate our moods above our worries and relieve debilitating depression. It can also perk us up if we use it with exercise or dance.
Music affecting the mood
Music affects our moods, it is the great mood enhancer. We may not understand the words, but instead recognize the expression of its musical beauty and power to de-stress.
Music has been called 'The International Language' - a very simple thought with much meaning behind it. Even if you can't speak the language of a country, you can move, sway, dance and most of all, enjoy the music of the country. We may not understand the words of a musical selection but we do understand the beauty.
As world cultures have grown closer, their particular musical styles and instruments have often merged. For example, U.S.-American bluegrass music contains elements from Anglo-Irish, Scottish, German and some African-American instrumental and vocal traditions. American music is truly product of the multi-ethnic "melting pot" society.
Whatever style of music you prefer, take the time regularly to enjoy your special musical composition. Music is good for your soul!
Whatever style of music you prefer, take the time regularly to enjoy your special musical composition. Music is good for your soul!
Just as there are a multitude of definitions for the term "music", likewise there are many divisions and groupings of music, many of which are caught up in the argument over the precise definition of music. Among the larger theme areas are classical music, popular or commercial music (including rock and roll), country music and folk music. Some genres such as bebop-era jazz, rap, punk rock and electronic music are often discounted as "real music" by member music lovers.
As with everything created by humans, there is an elemental basis for the composition of music. The basic essence of music lies with its harmony, rhythm, melody and dynamics. Harmony is the relation of notes to notes as they are play simultaneously. Rhythm, by the most simple definition, is musical time. Melody is a musical line of single tones or pitches, heard by the listener as a single unity. Dynamics provide the emotion behind the musical thought. Dynamics tell the performer when to play a piece softly or when to play loudly--music ranges from a mere whisper to the fullest of sound.
The making of music predates man's use of the written word and is deeply tied to the development and uniqueness of various human cultures. Music has influenced human beings since the dawn of civilization. Music is written and performed for a variety of purposes, including human pleasure, religious or ceremonial functions, or as entertainment products for sale in the marketplace.
Music is a human activity which involves structured, audible sounds and is used for artistic, entertainment or ceremonial purposes. Music is a major part of our environment. Music is often referred to as "The International Language" - a simple thought with vast implications behind it. Even if you cannot speak the language of a foreign country, you can move, dance, and most of all, enjoy the music of that country. While we may not understand the words to a particular song, we do understand the beauty of the music.
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