"There's something about music and engaging in musical activities that seem to be very stimulating for the brain and body. Sing your favorite songs with family and friends, playing in a band or dancing to music can also strengthen ties with other people," says neuroscientist, Dr. Petr Janata of the University of California, Davis as reported brainready.com, Monday (01/30/2012).
Reduce pain
Some studies have found that listening to music can reduce pain. Other studies have shown that music can be beneficial for patients with heart disease by reducing blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety.
Music therapy has also been shown to lift the spirits of patients with depression. Create their own music, either playing musical instruments or singing, can have a therapeutic effect as well.
When listening to or involved in the music that makes happy, relaxed, contemplative, the body will have the effect of deep relaxation like deep sleep, warm baths, and reduce overall stress levels.
Enhance the ability of the brain
There are several studies that show how music can enhance brain function. In one study, a clinical psychologist Charles Emery of Ohio State University studied the effects on people who listen to music during exercise on a regular basis.
Emery and his team tested 33 men and women who are in the final weeks of cardiac rehabilitation program. Each participant was tested for the ability to mentally after working out without music and exercise with music.
The result, on average, participants received scores more than doubled when listening to music after a workout without listening to music rather than after exercise. The selected music is Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons".
Previous research by other scientists suggests that music helps patients lung disease that his mental abilities to work better.
Emery thought the same benefits can be gained by listening to all kinds of music, not just classical music. He theorized that the "Four Seasons" can stimulate mental performance because of its complexity forcing the brain to regulate nerve transmission.
"But the other kind of music might work better for some people. I do not think there is anything special on Vivaldi music or classical music that will lead to improved brain function," Emery said.
Improve intelligence
Several other studies have illustrated that listening to music is a business that is more complex than it seems. The human brain is sorting out the tone, timing, and sequencing of sound to understand the music.
Believed that the frontal lobes of the brain is stimulated and activated when listening to music. Because the area is part of the brain associated with higher mental functions such as abstract thinking or planning.
Frances Rauscher, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh and her colleagues found that listening to Mozart can improve the reasoning of people in the field of mathematical and spatial abilities.
In fact, the rats ran mazes faster and more accurately after hearing Mozart. According to Rauscher, Mozart piano sonata seems to stimulate the activity of three genes involved in neuronal cell signaling in the brain.
Listening to music is one way of listening passively to obtain benefits for the brain. But a more stimulating brain activity and even increase IQ is playing or writing music.
Children six years old who were given music lessons when compared to drama lessons or no instruction to get additional 2-3 points in his or her IQ score.
Rauscher also found that after receiving music lessons for two years, pre-school children scored better on spatial reasoning tests than those following the computer lessons. But the benefits may not be the same for adults.