How does music interact with the brain?

Hello people of the World Wide Web! Or, Mr. Hammers’ Biology classes. Okay so I know there’s not many of us music geeks out there, but here goes.

I know some of you have heard of the term right brained or left brained. For those of you who don’t, it doesn’t mean which side of the body is your strongest; it’s what side of your brain that’s the strongest. The left side is supposedly math and science and the right is art and literature and science.

I set out to find out if it’s true. The brain is ultimately divided into two hemispheres, the right and left, as I said before (picture to the right). The right is known for music but there has been no known exact music processing area found in the brain. Further research has shown that it is an interaction between both sides of the brain to process music.

Additionally, the part of the brain that has perfect pitch is also involved in speech perception. Music and other sounds entering the ears go to the auditory cortex, assemblages of cells just above both ears. The right side of the cortex is crucial for hearing pitch as well as certain aspects of melody, harmony, and rhythm. The front part of our brain where working memories are stored also helps with the perception of rhythm and melody.

Researchers have found activity in regions of the brain that control movement when people just listen to music without moving any parts of their bodies. One researcher said "If you're just thinking about tapping out a rhythm, parts of the motor system in your brain light up. Music is as inherently motor as it is auditory," he continues. "Many of us 'conduct' while listening to classical music, hum along with show tunes, or dance to popular music. Add the contributions of facial expressions, stage lights, and emotions, and you appreciate the complexity of what our brain puts together while we listen and interact with music in a concert hall or mosh pit."

Yes, this might not make complete sense right now, but think about it people! Music can practically control your emotions and movements. I find that pretty cool stuff, and if you don’t, that’s not my problem.

So continuing on, understanding the biology of music helps us use it in ways beyond entertainment. We can use it medically and in athletics.

Following heart bypass surgery, patients often have changes in blood pressure. These changes are treated with drugs. Studies show that those in intensive care units where music is played need lower doses of these drugs compared with patients in units where no music is played.

Some hospitals play soft music in care units for premature babies. This music along with a nurse’s of mother’s humming has proven to help the babies gain weight faster and get out of the unit faster than the babies that don’t listen to the music.

The stories are limitless of athletes using music to help them before a big performance. For example, Pitcher Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres listens to AC/DC to get pumped for a game. To see how much difference music makes, the performance of an athlete who listens to music would have to be compared with that in games when he or she didn't listen.

If you want to look up any more info click here!

So people reading this, see how much music influences you? I bet you didn’t know some of that. So, I’m going to stop spending your time!

Keep dancing and singing like no one’s watching!

Alanna Griffin