Listening to Music

What happens in the brain when you listen to music?

 When you are listening to music, the short answer is A WHOLE LOT HAPPENS! While ears are designed to transmit sound waves, you hear with your brain as it decodes and interprets what the sound waves mean. Multiple areas of your brain are engaged and activated at the same time. Here are six things that happen in the brain when you listen to music:

      a) Levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine—the feel better chemical—rise.

      b) Levels of the stress hormone cortisol fall—reducing chronic stress.

c)         c) Endorphins that help you feel better also help you cope with pain are released

 d)   Neuropeptides can improve your mood as you listen to upbeat music.

 e)    Listening to sad or melancholy music can help you get in touch with your emotions and help you heal.

 f)     When you listen to live music, the bonding chemical, oxytocin is released that helps people learn to trust one another.