Music Can Make Smart and Against Pain

The music has been widely used as a therapy to treat various symptoms of depression and anxiety. Apparently, there are many other health benefits of music. The amount of this benefit is still explored 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 dance to music also can strengthen the bond with others," says neuroscientist, Dr. Petr Janata of University of California, Davis as reported brainready.com:

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. Make your own music, whether playing an instrument or singing, may have a therapeutic effect as well.

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

Improving the ability of the brain

There are several studies that show how music can improve brain function. In one study, clinical psychologist Charles Emery of Ohio State University studied the effects of music on people who listen to that 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 his mental faculties after exercising without music and exercise with music.

As a result, the average of the participants got a score more

than doubled when listening to music after a workout without listening to music rather than after exercising. The selected music is Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons".

Previous research by other scientists showed that music helps patients with lung diseases that mental abilities can work better.

Emery suspect the same benefits can be gained by listening to all kinds of music, not just classical music. He theorizes that the "Four Seasons" can stimulate mental performance because of its complexity forcing the brain to regulate nerve transmission.

"But other types of music may work better for some people. I do not think there is anything special on Vivaldi music or classical music which will trigger increased brain function," said Emery.

Increasing intelligence

Several other studies have illustrated that listening to music is a business that is more complex than it seems. The human brain sort out the tone, timing, and sequencing of sound to understand music.

It is believed that the frontal lobes of the brain are stimulated and activated when listening to music. Because the area was 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 mathematical reasoning 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 nerve cell signaling in the brain.

Listening to music is one way to listen to music passively to obtain benefits for the brain. But the more stimulating brain activity and even increasing IQ is playing or writing music.

Children six years old who were given music lessons when compared with drama lessons or no instruction received additional 2-3 points in their IQ scores.

Rauscher also found that after receiving the music lessons for two years, pre-school children scored better on tests of spatial reasoning compared to the follow computer lessons. But the benefits may not be the same for adults.