by Ketut Sumerjana
Music significantly affects brain function, impacting numerous cognitive, emotional, and physiological functions. Studies demonstrate that musical training and exposure can induce anatomical and functional alterations in the brain, hence improving cognitive capabilities and emotional regulation. It has been found that learning music is linked to bigger brain areas that help with memory, language processing, and executive function, especially in older people (Chaddock-Heyman et al., 2021). This suggests that interacting with music may improve cognitive functioning and neuroplasticity, which are both important for keeping older people's minds healthy (Böttcher et al., 2022).
Moreover, the impact of music on brain connections is substantial. Music listening has demonstrated the ability to improve functional connectivity among many brain regions associated with sensory and motor activities (Yin, 2024). This is especially pertinent in therapeutic settings, as music therapy can aid rehabilitation in patients with neurological deficits, even those in a minimally conscious state (Yin, 2024). Also, actively participating in music, like playing an instrument or singing, uses more parts of the brain than passively listening, which leads to better mental and emotional benefits (Gómez-Gallego et al., 2021; Pant et al., 2022).
The emotional reactions induced by music are also significant. Music can stimulate the limbic system and other brain regions linked to emotion, resulting in enhanced well-being and less anxiety (Shirsat et al., 2023; Huang et al., 2021). Music therapy has been shown to help people with a wide range of mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety, by changing the way their brains work and making it easier for them to control their emotions (Qiu et al., 2022). Also, personalized music therapies, in which patients pick music that speaks to them, have shown to improve engagement and therapeutic outcomes (Quinci et al., 2022).
Within the realm of developmental neuroscience, exposure to music has been associated with improved cognitive development in infants and children. Studies have shown that music therapy effectively impacts brain development in preterm newborns, fostering cognitive and emotional advancement (Pranata et al., 2022). Engaging in musical activities as a child leads to better language and memory skills, highlighting the importance of music in educational settings ("Development of a Music Activities Model to Enhance Brain Development in Children from Birth to Three Years; case study in Thailand," 2023; Tervaniemi et al., 2021).
The relationship between music and brain function is complex, involving cognitive improvement, emotional management, and developmental advantages. Evidence indicates that music functions not just as a medium of artistic expression but also as a potent instrument for cognitive and emotional development across the lifespan.
References
(2023). Development of a music activities model to enhance brain development in children from birth to three years; case study in thailand. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 44(3). https://doi.org/10.34044/j.kjss.2023.44.3.23
Böttcher, A., Zarucha, A., Köbe, T., Gaubert, M., Höppner, A., Altenstein, S., … & Wirth, M. (2022). Musical activity during life is associated with multi-domain cognitive and brain benefits in older adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.945709
Chaddock-Heyman, L., Loui, P., Weng, T., Weisshappel, R., McAuley, E., & Kramer, A. (2021). Musical training and brain volume in older adults. Brain Sciences, 11(1), 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010050
Gómez-Gallego, M., Gómez‐Gallego, J., Gallego-Mellado, M., & García‐García, J. (2021). Comparative efficacy of active group music intervention versus group music listening in alzheimer’s disease. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), 8067. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18158067
Huang, B., Hao, X., Long, S., Ding, R., Wang, J., Liu, Y., … & Yao, D. (2021). The benefits of music listening for induced state anxiety: behavioral and physiological evidence. Brain Sciences, 11(10), 1332. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11101332
Pant, U., Frishkopf, M., Park, T., Norris, C., & Papathanassoglou, E. (2022). A neurobiological framework for the therapeutic potential of music and sound interventions for post-traumatic stress symptoms in critical illness survivors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 3113. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19053113
Pranata, I., Cahyono, M., & Widjaja, N. (2022). Music enhances brain development in premature infants: a literature review. International Journal of Scientific Advances, 3(6). https://doi.org/10.51542/ijscia.v3i6.12
Qiu, P., Dai, J., Wang, T., Li, H., Ma, C., & Xi, X. (2022). Altered functional connectivity and complexity in major depressive disorder after musical stimulation. Brain Sciences, 12(12), 1680. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12121680
Quinci, M., Belden, A., Goutama, V., Gong, D., Hanser, S., Donovan, N., … & Loui, P. (2022). Longitudinal changes in auditory and reward systems following receptive music-based intervention in older adults. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15687-5
Shirsat, A., Jha, R., & Verma, P. (2023). Music therapy in the treatment of dementia: a review article. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.36954
Tervaniemi, M., Putkinen, V., Nie, P., Wang, C., Du, B., Lu, J., … & Tao, S. (2021). Improved auditory function caused by music versus foreign language training at school age: is there a difference?. Cerebral Cortex, 32(1), 63-75. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhab194
Yin, J. (2024). Effects of different frequencies music on cortical responses and functional connectivity in patients with minimal conscious state. Journal of Biophotonics, 17(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/jbio.202300427
No comments:
Post a Comment