The surprising effect classical music has on your brain
What if there was a way you could easily boost your happiness, improve your memory and keep stress at bay. Sound too good to be true? A new Finnish study might hold the answer: classical music.
For decades there’s been conflicting research about the impact classical music has on the brain. On one side, researchers say it can make children smarter but opposing studies claim it falls into the category of music myths. So what’s the truth?
Researchers from the University of Helsinki have conducted a study to finally answer this question. They examined music’s effect on the brain on a molecular level, something that’s never been done before. One group listed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K.216 for 20 minutes while the control group were asked to abstain from listening to music.
The results were surprising. They found that listening to classical tunes enhanced activity of the genes involved in dopamine secretion- the ‘feel good’ hormone linked to happiness.
They also found links between music and memory, with more activity of genes involved in “transport synaptic functions, learning and memory,” researchers said. Indeed, one of the impacted genes was synuclein-alpha, a known risk gene for Parkinson’s disease.
So, what if classical music just isn’t your thing? Don’t worry. Other studies have found links between different music genres and health benefits:
- Jazz Music helped reduce anxiety in patents underoing surgery, a study found.
- Hip Hop lyrics assisted those suffering from cognitive illnesses
- Singing or dancing reduced symptoms in depressed children and teenagers.
Whatever your listening preference the message is clear: turn it up!
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