How Music Affects The Brain

In today’s society, music plays such a huge part of many people’s lives. Everyone reacts to music differently. Whether it affects them emotionally or without them realizing subconsciously. However, listening and playing music can cause positive effects on one’s brain. Everyone in the world is different especially when it comes to the genres of music that someone chooses to listen to and has an interest in. Music choice can predict what someone's personality is like. Though this has to be taken lightly as it has only been tested in young adults. “In a study of couples who spent time getting to know each other, looking at each other’s top ten favorite songs actually provided fairly reliable predictions as to the listener’s personality traits” (Cooper). Some who listen to Jazz have high self-esteem, tend to be very creative, and are very outgoing. While some who listen to Indie may have low self-esteem, are creative, but tend to not be hard workers. Though trying to generalize this study is very hard.

Victims of injuries to the left side of their brain suffer from symptoms such as losing their ability to speak. This is where music can come in and help a victim. Many therapist use a program called “Melodic Intonation” which is when “the patient is prodded to sing until he can talk once again” ("The Effect Music Has on the Brain"). Apart from this, music has a tendency to help release dopamine, a feel good hormone that helps to enhance the function of the brain. In addition to repairing brain damage, music plays a role in reducing seizures. Calming sounds, especially piano pieces by Mozart, can reduce seizure causing signals in less than five minutes. The song has a very profound effect of the cerebral cortex. Music is more than soothing, listening to your favorite songs can be brain