Music can be used as a way to relax our minds, regulate emotions, and help cope with stress by lowering blood pressure and heart rate. It affects neurotransmitters, the body’s chemical messengers, in the brain. Some of these neurotransmitters include dopamine, serotonin, and cortisol. Listening to music stimulates the brain to release dopamine, the body’s “reward center” that is associated with feelings of pleasure. High dopamine can lead to positive emotions and uplifted mood. It impacts serotonin levels, which regulate mood and increase emotional well-being. This explains the eutrophic feeling we feel when listening to music. Music reduces cortisol, the “stress hormone” that raises blood sugar and potentially causes type 2 diabetes, weakened immune system, and other health risks. To put it simply, high cortisol causes high stress. Music also has the power to improve your state of mind and reduce the perception of pain. It improves sleep quality via distraction from negative thoughts which in turn decreases negative moods. Slow beats in music encourage the slow brainwaves that are associated with hypnotic and meditative states. This is used in therapeutic settings (music therapy) to promote relaxation and anxiety relief. On the other hand, faster beats can encourage more alert and concentrated thinking. Overall, listening to music is a psychology-proven and great way to lift our spirits and calm our nerves.
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