Tuning into your brain
Hello! Welcome to my new blog series Georgia's Grey Area (excuse the pun), where I dive into fascinating topics that sit at the intersection of brain, body and longevity.
Starting with a musical one! We’ve all experienced the joy of music—whether it’s a favourite song lifting our mood or a familiar melody sparking an old memory. But did you know that music has a profound influence on our brain health and well-being? In this post, we’ll explore the remarkable ways music interacts with the brain, from improving mood and movement to unlocking memories and even slowing cognitive decline. Let’s tune in and discover the power of music for mind and body!
A Note on the History of Music in Healthcare
Music has long been intertwined with health and longevity, dating back to ancient Greece with Apollo revered as the god of both music and healing, alongside theories of Plato that medical centres should embed art and music as ‘forms of healing into its core’ [1]. He clearly had a point as, in the late 19th century, scientific recognition of the therapeutic potential of music led to extensive research endeavours [2]. Music therapy has since become well established as a powerful therapeutic strategy [3].
The relationship between Music and the Brain:
Our conscious experience of music is that we hear it and attribute value: we love it, we hate it, we critique it. The sound makes us want to move, dance, relax, sleep. It evokes emotion, joyful, melancholic, nostalgic, fearful. But what exactly is going on in our brain that cause this music to take control of us in these ways?
• The temporal lobe, where the auditory cortex that our ears report to is located, processes music and language.
• The frontal cortex evaluates musical elements and coordinates movement in response.
• Regions known as ‘Broca’s area’ and ‘Wernicke’s area’ formulate music expression and comprehension.
• The limbic system links music with emotions and memory.
• The brain’s reward system releases dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, enhancing mood and motivation.
• The hypothalamus can alter heart rate and blood pressure in response to music. [4]
So the point I am making with this list is that music has a powerful reach on the mind. It taps into a range of brain regions with multi-functional control of the body, from emotion to memory to movement to even how our heart beats. So how does research think this effects our brain health?
Mood in Major
When we listen to music we enjoy, our brain's reward system lights up, releasing a ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter called dopamine [5]. This happens in areas of the brain involved in pleasure and motivation, critically involved in mood regulation. Active music-making, whether through singing, playing instruments, or creating electronic music, positively influences brain chemistry and mood by boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine can enhance focus, memory, sleep, mood, and motivation, while serotonin works to stabilise mood, regulates sleep patterns, reduce anxiety, and alleviate pain. Group singing is particularly beneficial as it fosters social connections through the release of oxytocin, the "bonding hormone," and promotes relaxation by synchronizing breathing patterns, which lowers cortisol levels—the body's primary stress hormone. Overall, this highlights music’s powerful ability to uplift us emotionally and create positive mental states both in the moment and with lasting effect.
Movement
But the benefits of the effect on dopamine go beyond solely mood improvement. Dopamine also plays a crucial regulatory role in movement. Research has shown that music, specifically rhythmic auditory stimulation, can have effects on our motor functions. This is especially significant for individuals with movement disorders like Parkinson's disease. The rhythmic nature of music seems to provide an external cue that helps the brain organise and execute movement patterns more efficiently. In Parkinson's disease, where dopamine systems are compromised, implementation of music therapy has shown promise in improving gait, reducing freezing episodes, and enhancing overall mobility [6,7].
Melodic Memories
Music has a unique power to unlock memories even when other forms of recall fail. For example, Alzheimer’s Disease patients often struggle with autobiographical memory, their ability to recognise familiar melodies and sing along remains remarkably intact, even in advanced stages [8]. Recent research on music-evoked autobiographical memories (MEAMs) has shown that memories triggered by music in AD patients are retrieved faster, are more specific, and carry stronger emotional content compared to memories recalled in silence [9]. This reflects that the neural connections formed when memories are associated with music are particularly resilient.
Rewiring Raucous
Possibly the most exciting insight on this topic, is the effect actively practicing music may have to stimulate neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons) and neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to form new connections). These processes typically become more difficult and diminish as we age, resulting in susceptibility to neurodegenerative disease and cognitive decline. Compelling evidence for this comes from studies finding that years of musical practice can lead to notable changes in the brains of musicians compared to non-musicians. For instance, a recent study found that musicians have a larger anterior portion of the ‘corpus callosum’, the part of the brain that connects the two hemispheres [10]. This suggests that musicians may have better communication between both sides of their brain, which is incredibly important for completing complex tasks. On this point, another study, comparing brain ages across non-musicians and musicians, found that amateur musicians had the lowest scores suggesting that music-making could have an age-decelerating effect on the brain! [11]
Tuning in to Your Brain: Practical Tips
So, how can you harness the power of music for brain health and longevity? Here are some evidence-based suggestions (and things I personally like to do):
1. Learn an Instrument: It's never too late to start. Learning a musical instrument challenges your brain and can help you keep sharp in the mind from the studies I discussed above.
2. Sing Along: Singing, especially in groups, has been shown to improve mood and cognitive function. Don't be shy, you can be tone deaf (like me) and still get the same benefits from this.
3. Have a boogie: Combining music with physical movement enhances motor skills and coordination, particularly beneficial for those at risk of Parkinson's disease. This can be as simple as putting on your favourite tunes while making breakfast and dancing with your cereal bowl!
4. Practice Active Listening: Don't always just have music on in the background, try actively engaging with it by focusing on different instruments or analysing the lyrics. As an example, my grandma (who is in her 80’s and probably healthier and more active than me!) LOVES jazz so she started a ‘jazz appreciation society’, getting together with her fellow jazz enthusiasts to actively listen to and discuss music together!
Signing off:
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope you have learnt something useful and that I have inspired you to have a brain-boosting boogie. I am going to sign off with a quote:
“If every physician and trained musician understood the nature and action of music, there is no telling the good that might be accomplished, the lives brightened and the tangled brains restored to harmony.” - Dr. Egbert Guernsey (Podolsky, 1954)
More about Georgia: Georgia recently graduated with a Masters in Neuroscience (MRes) with distinction from the University of Newcastle. She specialized in psychiatric illnesses, neurological disorders, and the biology of behavior, writing her thesis on the effects of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation on cognition. Her particular area of intrigue is cognitive neuroscience and she's passionate about sharing practical strategies for improving brain function and overall mental well-being. In her free time, Georgia enjoys yoga, running, and experimenting with cooking.
References:
[1] Leszl W.G. Plato’s attitude to poetry and the fine arts, and the origins of aesthetics. Etudes Platoniciennes. 2006;2:285–351. doi: 10.4000/etudesplatoniciennes.1052.
[2] Harman S. The Evolution of Performing Arts Medicine. In: Sataloff R.T., Brand A.G., Lederman R.J., editors. Performing Arts Medicine. 3rd ed. Science & Medicine, Inc.; Narberth, PA, USA: 2010.
[3] Debus E.S., van Moreau D., Holzwarth K., Baaß D., Spintge R. Where music meets medicine: The first International Conference ‘Science and Sounds’ in conjunction with founding the new Centre for Music Medicine. Music Med. 2022;14:261–265. doi: 10.47513/mmd.v14i4.897.
[4] Toader C, Tataru CP, Florian IA, Covache-Busuioc RA, Bratu BG, Glavan LA, Bordeianu A, Dumitrascu DI, Ciurea AV. Cognitive Crescendo: How Music Shapes the Brain's Structure and Function. Brain Sci. 2023 Sep 29;13(10):1390. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13101390. Erratum in: Brain Sci. 2024 Apr 09;14(4):365. doi: 10.3390/brainsci14040365. PMID: 37891759; PMCID: PMC10605363.
[5] Ferreri L, Mas-Herrero E, Zatorre RJ, Ripollés P, Gomez-Andres A, Alicart H, Olivé G, Marco-Pallarés J, Antonijoan RM, Valle M, Riba J, Rodriguez-Fornells A. Dopamine modulates the reward experiences elicited by music. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Feb 26;116(9):3793-3798. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1811878116. Epub 2019 Jan 22. PMID: 30670642; PMCID: PMC6397525.
[6] Katlen da Silva L, Silva Brito TS, Pascucci Sande de Souza LA, Luvizutto GJ. Music-based physical therapy in Parkinson's disease: An approach based on international Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Apr;26:524-529. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.08.015. Epub 2020 Sep 5. PMID: 33992292.
[7] Braun Janzen T, Koshimori Y, Richard NM, Thaut MH. Rhythm and Music-Based Interventions in Motor Rehabilitation: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives. Front Hum Neurosci. 2022 Jan 17;15:789467. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.789467. PMID: 35111007; PMCID: PMC8801707.
[8] Koelsch S, Jäncke L. Music and the heart. Eur Heart J. 2015 Nov 21;36(44):3043-9. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehv430. Epub 2015 Sep 9. PMID: 26354957.
[12] Cuddy LL, Sikka R, Vanstone A. Preservation of musical memory and engagement in healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2015 Mar;1337:223-31. doi: 10.1111/nyas.12617. PMID: 25773638.
[9] El Haj M, Fasotti L, Allain P. The involuntary nature of music-evoked autobiographical memories in Alzheimer's disease. Conscious Cogn. 2012 Mar;21(1):238-46. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2011.12.005. Epub 2012 Jan 20. PMID: 22265372.
[10] Matziorinis AM, Koelsch S. The promise of music therapy for Alzheimer's disease: A review. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2022 Oct;1516(1):11-17. doi: 10.1111/nyas.14864. Epub 2022 Jul 18. PMID: 35851957; PMCID: PMC9796133.
[11] Wan CY, Schlaug G. Music making as a tool for promoting brain plasticity across the life span. Neuroscientist. 2010 Oct;16(5):566-77. doi: 10.1177/1073858410377805. PMID: 20889966; PMCID: PMC2996135.
[12] Rogenmoser L, Kernbach J, Schlaug G, Gaser C. Keeping brains young with making music. Brain Struct Funct. 2018 Jan;223(1):297-305. doi: 10.1007/s00429-017-1491-2. Epub 2017 Aug 16. PMID: 28815301.
