The doctor and the dietitian are opposites in many things, including their musical tastes. Marion always loved classical, jazz, and easy-listening music, where Dr. Hauser listened to rock, show tunes, Disney, and a wide array of loud music. However, in the last few years, Dr. Hauser has come to realize the health benefits of Marion’s type of music!
Studies have shown physical and mental health benefits of listening to your favorite tunes. Music can reduce pain due to the fact that the same neural pathways in the brain that process pain also process music. Concentrating on tunes and even humming uses up some “bandwidth” that pain would occupy. Marion experienced this because when she received Prolotherapy injections and other treatments after her bicycling crash, she listened to her favorite music in the treatment room and she and the staff would sing during the treatments to help her through them!
Learning to play music can build new neural pathways that will help strengthen the brain as you age. Professional musicians are known to have more grey matter than non-musicians. Another reason it is a great idea to get your kids playing a musical instrument at a young age! It also gets them off their devices and stimulates their brains!
We read another study on the “neurochemistry of music” which revealed music improved immune function by increasing IgA antibodies that fight infections. The study also found that cortisol levels (stress hormone) were reduced, leading to lower incidence of headaches, high blood pressure, and overall improved health. In our office, we measure HRV (heart rate variability) under various stressors and find that loud music worsens it, where quieter music improves HRV.
We love this fun fact called, “The Mozart Effect!” This is a somewhat controversial term from Rauscher et al. in 1993 that claimed listening to Mozart’s music could make a person more intelligent. The effect has been attributed to short-term improvement in performing mental tasks that require spatial reasoning skills. Researchers said playing Mozart stimulates brain development, improves IQ, and spurs creativity in children. Some believe it is beneficial to play Mozart during pregnancy to improve babies’ IQs! Music has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and produce calm in anxiety-producing situations such as giving birth, preparing for a talk, or undergoing a medical procedure.
So, what is the healthiest music to listen to? It depends on what you want to accomplish. Listening to music while working can help stimulate the senses and start those creative juices flowing. Productivity experts say that pop songs and music with lyrics can be distracting because we may start focusing on the words of the songs. Other studies have shown that this type of music could also impede reading comprehension and processing skills. Conversely, others say that they crank up pop music loudly and it forces them to concentrate more on their work. We all know that if we hear one of our favorite songs, sometimes we are stimulated to just get up and dance! This is not necessarily a bad thing, right!? Some of us need to get up out of our chairs!
Studies show that instrumental music is optimal when trying to accomplish cognitive work such as writing reports or doing taxes. Some say classical music can help people perform tasks more efficiently and improve concentration, where others say that instrumental movie scores get people into the productivity mood faster! Either way, experts state that we should choose music that is enjoyable but not TOO familiar to the point of distraction. One-size does not fit all. If classical is not your cup of tea, listening to ocean sounds, babbling brooks, or waterfalls have also been shown to reduce stress and improve concentration, make decisions, and problem-solve.
Interestingly enough, you will now hear classical, jazz, worship, or calming music being played in the Hauser household. Imagine that? Here’s to your health!