New Study On Benefits of Music for Intelligence and Healing

Music has been used as a therapy to address the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Apparently, there are many other health benefits of music. Many of these benefits are still unexplored by researchers.

"There's something about the music and engage 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 the bond with others," says neuroscientist, Dr. Petr Janata of the University of California, Davis as reported brainready.com.

Reducing pain

Several 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 raise the morale of patients with depression. Make your own music, either playing an instrument or singing, may have a therapeutic effect as well.

When listening to music or engage in making happy, relaxed, contemplative, body will have the effect of deep relaxation such as sleep soundly, warm baths, and lower overall stress levels.

Improving the ability of the brain

There are several studies that show how music can enhance brain function. In one study, clinical psychologist Charles Emery of Ohio State University studied the effects of music on people who listen to them for regular exercise.

Emery and his team tested 33 men and women who are in the final weeks of a cardiac rehabilitation program. Each participant was tested for mental ability after exercising without music and exercise with music.

As a result, on average, participants received a score more than doubled when listening to music without listening to music after a workout than after exercise. The selected music is Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons".

Previous research by other scientists showed that music helps lung disease patients so that his mental faculties can work better.

Emery suspect 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 may work better for some people. I do not think there is anything special on Vivaldi music or classical music that would trigger an increase in brain function," said Emery.

Increasing intelligence

Several other studies have described 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 sounds to understand music.

It is believed that the frontal lobe of the brain is stimulated and activated when listening to music. Because the area is the 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 enhance reasoning in mathematics and spatial ability.

In fact, the mice ran the maze faster and more accurately after hearing Mozart. According to Rauscher, Mozart piano sonata seems to stimulate activity of three genes involved in the signaling of nerve cells in the brain.

Listening to music is one way to listen to music 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 received additional 2-3 points in IQ scores.

Rauscher also found that after receiving music lessons for two years, pre-school children scored better on spatial reasoning tests than in learning computers. However, the benefits may not be the same for adults.