Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Overview
Table of Contents
1. Music and Body Functioning
1.1 Neuroplasticity
1.2 Melatonin
2. Improved Health in Later Life
2.1 2.1 Diseases Lessened
2.2 Improved Functioning
2.3 Sleep and Exercise
3. Musical Variations
3.1 Error! Reference source not
found.
3.2 Composers
4.
[a] An MRI of the brain shown from the same rear view, depicting
the malleability of the brain during the learning process when it 5. References
undergoes neuroplasticity.
Music
6. Education
Picture References
4.1 Mental Disorders
[b] a black and white piano, an instrument with 88 keys that contains strings hammered as each key is struck
The internal biological clock of the body is known to sync up with other outside patterns and
rhythms. One of these systems involves the meter, rhythm, and tempo of music. The body
reacts to these sounds and feelings by mimicking the various differences in each piece of
music. For example, the body will synchronize breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure, and brain
waves with the musical rhythm. [2]
Music has the ability to bring internal body functions to a healthy and sustainable rate so it can
remain healthy throughout our
lifetime. Not only can music
synchronize the systems in the body,
it can also calm brain waves as well as
heart rates when the tempo is slower.
[3]
1.1 Neuroplasticity
Because of the diligent practice that comes with being a professional musician, neural
connections are often more apparent in MRIs and other similar imaging techniques in the
brains of active musicians. Additionally, any musical involvement, whether it be listening to
music or learning how to play an instrument, stimulates activity in the brain and therefore
increases neuroplasticity, leading to compensation of brain deterioration in later life. [5]
1.2 Melatonin
Music also has positive effects into elderly life. When a musical instrument is learned, the brain
functions at a very high level in order to continue this learned skill. Studies have found that
when an instrument is learned and then sustained throughout life, the brain deteriorates at a
slower rate into elderly life and is able to function at higher levels than the brains of
nonmusicians.
[10] Musicians or persons involved in music in their lifetime performed better on cognitive
tests later in their life than those with no musical experience whatsoever. These tests included
nonverbal memory recall, visuomotor speed, sequencing, and cognitive flexibility. On every
test, musicians outperformed their nonmusician counterparts. Furthermore, when levels of
education, exercise, and social involvement are the same among musicians and nonmusicians,
those involved in music outperform their counterpoints in brain capability in later life. It was
also found that the rate of cognitive decline is directly related to the intensity of musical
studies. Brain deterioration slows as musical study intensifies. [11]
When emotional well-being and cognitive function are above average due to music
involvement, other areas of life are improved because of those factors. Activities including
sleeping, walking, exercising, and performing cognitive activities trended higher in music
listeners compared to those who did not listen. This is because musical participation
encourages social involvement and exercise of the brain and body. Music is linked to physical
activity because overall it increases energy and therefore encourages exercise. [12]
3. Musical Variations
Music has an overall positive impact on health no matter the method of involvement. However,
certain variations in music including the composer, environment in which music is interacted
with, and the genre of music do vary the effectiveness on health throughout life. Studies have
also found that playing a musical instrument compared to only listening to music also effects
how great the impact is on health. [13]
3.1 Genres
3.2 Composers
There are a variety of classical music composers that all have different effects on health and
body functioning. Mozart’s music, for example, is known to increase mental activity, decrease
epileptic form activity in patients with seizures and in a coma condition. These improved
symptoms were not observed during music by Haydn, Liszt, Chopin, Beethoven, and Wagner.
Mozart’s music is known to cause neuropsychological changes that can be seen in brain scans
of patients, explaining its ability to improve seizures and symptoms of patients in coma
conditions over his classical counterparts. Studies have proven that musical sounds with a
frequency from 5000 to 8000 Hz produce a therapeutic effect and increase mental alertness.
Additionally, Mozart’s music is full with sounds of high frequency that strengthen microscopic
muscles of the middle ear. This leads to an overall improvement of hearing and speech. This
provides evidence that Mozart’s music has a greater positive effect on health due to its
characteristics of high frequencies. [16]
4. Music Education
Children and adolescents who have been introduced to music exhibit signs of increased
emotional understanding and self-confidence in their abilities. Because music encourages
social involvement and a sense of pride, mental health is typically stable and taken care of in
children who are musically involved. [18]
Low self-esteem is associated with many mental health problems. These can include mental
illnesses such as suicidal tendencies, depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. An association
can also be drawn to social problems like antisocial behavior, difficulty in sustaining and
forming close relationships, and violence and substance abuse. Therefore, when an adolescent
has increased self-esteem due to musical involvement and having a sense of purpose, these
mental disorders are decreased in the overall musically involved population. [19]
5. References
6. Picture References
[a] Banks, Duncan. “What Is Brain Plasticity and Why Is It so Important?” The Conversation, 14
May 2019, theconversation.com/what-is-brain-plasticity-and-why-is-it-so-important-55967.
[b] Knop, Stas. “White and Black Piano Keys · Free Stock Photo.” Free Stock Photos,
www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-white-close-up-instrument-keyboard-1153896/.
[c] “CogniFit.” Brain and Neuroplasticity, Neurogenesis, and Cognition Exercises with CogniFit,
10 Dec. 2015, www.cognifit.com/brain-plasticity-and-cognition.
[d] Melatonin.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Oct. 2019,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin#/media/File:Melatonin.svg.
[e] Martiniano, Eli Carlos, et al. “Musical Auditory Stimulus Acutely Influences Heart Rate
Dynamic Responses to Medication in Subjects with Well-Controlled Hypertension.” Nature
News, Nature Publishing Group, 17 Jan. 2018, www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-19418-7.
[f] “Genealogy of Musical Genres.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Nov. 2017,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogy_of_musical_genres.
[g] Pixabay. “Printed Musical Note Page · Free Stock Photo.” Free Stock Photos,
www.pexels.com/photo/printed-musical-note-page-164821/.