For many, music is the purest form of art, acting as a direct manifestation of our personalities. But, can music do more than that? Can it actually help to repair brain damage?
We all listen to music for different reasons. Sometimes we might be feeling down and need a quick pick up, other times we need to kick back and relax after a difficult day at work. Whatever the situation, there’s bound to be a piece of music that perfectly encapsulates a specific moment in time.
But can music do more than simply entertain? Does it affect your general mental wellbeing, cognitive function, quality of life, and even repair brain damage? We’ll be looking to answer those questions in the following post!
So, for a closer look at the benefits of music for the brain, be sure to read on…
What Benefits Can Music Have for the Brain?
Improving Mental Wellbeing
Research has demonstrated that music can be used to help treat various mental conditions, including depression, trauma and schizophrenia. Music can act as a medium for processing emotions, but it can also be used as a way of regulating or calming anxiety or dysregulation in the brain.
In fact, music can have such a positive impact on our mental wellbeing, it’s often used as a direct therapy method. Music therapy comes in a number of different forms, including lyric analysis, improvised music playing, active music listening and song writing.
Active music listening is particularly interesting, as it demonstrates that music can be used to help regulate moods. Music engages the neocortex of our brain, which helps to calm us and reduce impulsivity, which means it can be used to match or alter our mood.
A study that demonstrated the effect of music on mental wellbeing saw participants who were exposed to music demonstrate significant decreased in depression and blood pressure scores.
Cognitive Function
Cognition is a term that refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension. This can include thinking, understanding, remembering, judging and problem-solving. These are higher level functions of the brain that encompass language, imagination, perception and planning.
There have been conflicting studies regarding the effectiveness of music on cognition, which suggests that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy in this regard. Music being used to improve cognition may depend on personality and the need for external stimulation.
An academic study carried out in 2018 investigated the effects of music therapy on cognitive ability, psychiatric symptoms, and activities of daily living for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The results for the study found that music therapy was indeed effective for improving verbal fluency and for alleviating some of the psychiatric symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s.
Analysis from the study also indicated that music therapy was effective for enhancing memory and language ability in patients with mild Alzheimer’s. It proved that music enhanced general cognitive function and mental wellbeing.
Physical Reparation
The first research into the use of music for repairing brain damage was originally met with widespread scepticism and resistance. The accumulation of scientific research and evidence has helped to diminish those doubts. Therapists and physicians now use music to help repair brain damage to assist with the rehabilitation process in ways that are backed up by decades of effective clinical research.
According to Headway, the brain association of Great Britain, music therapy is seen as a way of improving multiple areas of brain function deficit and to improve general quality of life. Music can also aid and facilitate physical healing after a traumatic event.
There are a number of possible explanations for the physical healing effects that music can have. Headway theorise that music creates ‘rhythmic auditory stimulation’ on the brain, which is thought to aid movement. In a similar sense, musical improvisation and singing is thought to assist with emotional expression and speech.
Interestingly, simply listening to music is also thought to aid in the control of pain, which is often notoriously difficult to treat in certain circumstances.
Music has also been shown to activate some of the broadest and most diverse networks of the brain. Not only is the auditory cortex in the temporal lobes activated, but the parts of the brain involved in emotion, as well as the brain’s motor system, are also activated by music, strengthening the pathways between the various networks.
How Exactly Does Music Therapy Work?
We’ve already touched on ‘music therapy’ a few times in this post, so it’s only right that we also discuss exactly what it entails and how it differs to simply listening to music in the traditional sense.
The British Association for Music Therapy describe the technique as a ‘psychological clinical intervention’. It’s delivered by registered music therapists who help people who have been affected by injury, illness or disability, supporting their psychological, emotional, cognitive, physical, communicative and social needs.
But what exactly does music therapy entail? Well, every music therapy session is different because the therapist will usually respond to the individual needs of their patient. However, general themes do tend to crop up across the board.
Sessions will often consist of improvisation and musical games to help patients explore the world of sound at their own pace. Depending on the issue they’re dealing with – be it psychological, cognitive or physical – music therapy is used to help build a therapeutic relationship.
What Are Your Thoughts About Music for the Brain?
In this post, we’ve taken a closer look at the benefits music can have on the brain, with a specific look at how it can help to repair brain damage. It’s something that will continue to be thoroughly researched in the future, and there will no doubt be plenty more studies which will help to clarify the ways in which we can effectively use music to treat specific brain damage or injuries.
What are your thoughts regarding using music to help repair brain damage? If you have any experiences of your own, feel free to leave a comment below so we can keep the discussion going.
Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained medical professional. Be sure to consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you’re seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
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