How does music affect our brain? It is a question that scientists and musicians alike have explored for decades. From the moment a melody hits our ears, it triggers a symphony of neural activity, lighting up regions responsible for emotion, memory, and even motor control. Research shows that music isn’t just entertainment—it’s a biological powerhouse that can physically reshape our neural pathways.
If we believed that the only means of communication for human beings was language, we are very far from reality.
Listening to and playing music is one of the few activities that involves using the entire brain. It impacts everything from emotional regulation to structural connectivity.
Music is a communication tool in the human being that generates a clear effect on cognitive functions and the brain. But, how does it act and what is the relationship between music in the brain?
Let’s understand in the following blog.
Music in the brain of a child: From a very early age, human beings develop a kind of innate musical grammar, and this plays an important role in emotional, cognitive, and social development in the first days of life.
So much so, that it has been shown that newborns already have the development of specific systems of the right hemisphere for the processing of musical information.
This has been confirmed in studies that, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, have examined the brain activity of 1- and 3-day-old newborns while they listened to music excerpts and then altered versions of them.
Brain areas involved: Although we may think that the journey of music through our brain is simple, it goes a long way in several areas.
From the eardrum, it goes to the brain stem, from there to the midbrain, and continues its journey to the medial geniculate body or auditory thalamus, which connects this information with the auditory cortex of the temporal lobe.
This area is responsible for reducing the background noise of what we hear and modulating the sound, focusing on the characteristics of the isolated tones.
How does music act in the brain? Key structures:
The involvement of music in our brain encompasses many areas. Now, how does music act on the brain? What is the relationship between music and the brain?
– Rostromedial prefrontal cortex: This area shows different levels of activation depending on pitch and rhythm. In such a way that when we listen to a melody, the prefrontal cortex is activated, also processing the emotional part.
– Right temporal lobe: Related to basic sound processing, the right hemisphere registers the rhythm and emotional tone when we communicate. In people with epileptic seizures who had to undergo a surgical operation, where part of this lobe had to be removed,
It was observed that they began to have serious problems in perceiving melodies. This same operation on the left lobe did not have such consequences.-
Limbic system: Those brain regions that are related to the recognition of rhythm or melody are linked to the emotional part that governs such a system. Likewise, this emotional part involves the striatal dopaminergic system.
| Region | Function in Music Processing |
|---|---|
| Frontal Lobe | Used in emotional regulation, planning, and focus. |
| Temporal Lobe | Processes tone, pitch, and language (lyrics). |
| Cerebellum | Coordinates movement and rhythm (tapping your foot). |
| Amygdala | Triggers emotional responses to songs. |
This limbic system is connected to areas related to memory, such as the sensory cortex, or supramarginal gyrus.
Why does music move us?
Once in the auditory cortex, the music proceeds to the limbic system, and from the thalamus, there are some projections to the medial orbitofrontal cortex and the amygdala. This area is par excellence the control structure of emotions, regulating the response of pleasure or displeasure to certain stimuli.
Therefore, depending on the type of music we listen to, we experience a series of emotions or others. For example, in a suspense or horror movie, music generally causes us anguish or, on the contrary, when faced with a great soundtrack we can get emotional.
Quick Summary.
Music triggers a complex neurological reaction that can permanently alter the brain’s structure and function:.
Strengthens Connectivity: Engaging with music strengthens the corpus callosum, the bridge between the left and right hemispheres, allowing for faster communication between creative and logical centers.
Neuroplasticity: Learning an instrument increases gray matter volume in the auditory, motor, and visual-spatial regions, particularly if started at a young age.
Dopamine Release: Music stimulates the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s reward center, releasing dopamine—the same “feel-good” chemical associated with food and other pleasures.
Stress Reduction: Listening to music lowers cortisol levels and can trigger the release of oxytocin, which helps social bonding and reduces anxiety.
Memory Retrieval: Music is processed in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex; because these areas are often the last to be affected by cognitive decline, music can “unlock” memories in patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Conclusion,
Music doesn’t just entertain; it acts as a “total brain workout,” improving memory, enhancing mood, and physically expanding the areas of the brain responsible for movement and hearing.
Music & Your Brain: FAQ
Does music actually change the physical structure of the brain?
Yes. Musicians often have more gray matter in the brain regions responsible for muscle control, sensory perception, and auditory processing. Long-term training also strengthens the corpus callosum, the bridge connecting the left and right hemispheres.
Why does music trigger strong memories?
Music is processed in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, areas closely tied to memory and emotion. Because music is a “multisensory” experience, it creates stronger neural markers, making it easier to recall specific life events when a certain song plays.
What is “musical frisson” or the “chills” we feel?
Musical frisson occurs when a piece of music stimulates the brain’s reward system, releasing a surge of dopamine. It often happens during unexpected harmonic changes or emotional crescendos that the brain finds particularly “rewarding.”
Can music help with brain recovery or aging?
Absolutely. Music therapy is used to create neural detours for stroke victims to regain speech. It is also one of the most effective tools for patients with Alzheimer’s, as musical memory often remains intact even after other cognitive functions decline.
How does music reduce stress and anxiety?
Listening to relaxing music lowers cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and can increase the production of oxytocin. This helps slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure, effectively “calming” the nervous system.
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