The power of music to influence human physiology has been known since ancient times. People have explored the effective effects of sounds and vibrations on the human body, trying to wisely apply their knowledge.
The healers of Ancient Egypt did an excellent job of treating insomnia using choral singing. The inhabitants of Ancient China used musical motifs to restore the skeletal and cardiovascular systems. Philosophers of Antiquity created entire treatises on the topic of various methods of music therapy. Let's consider several ways music influences the human body.
Music makes us stronger
Increasing physical capabilities and endurance is a well-researched fact. Over the course of many years of research, scientists have discovered how musical influence on a person improves muscle performance during physical activity.
When listening to music, there is an improvement in the results of athletes and the activities of people whose work involves heavy physical labor. This is explained by the presence of a given musical tempo, as a result of which synchronicity of body movements and the rhythm of the melody occurs. A person performing a physical action while listening to music spends less effort than when performing the same actions without music.
About 2,500 people involved in the Olympic reserves and taking part in the research noted that they were able to perform exercises more effectively and perform more approaches while listening to music.
Thus, a person achieves greater results with less expenditure of his physical resources.
In these cases, the state flow frequency effect also works. Simply put, the frequency of a mental state is increased, akin to a meditative trance process, during which a person acts automatically and correctly, which leads to good performance.
The impact of music on the human psyche: mechanism of influence
The impact of music on the human psyche occurs through sound perception, physiological and psychological. Music is a wave that affects the brain and the entire human body through certain brain signals through neurons. Thus, the reaction to music is ensured by the nervous system, interconnected with all human organs.
Sound is also energy that is created as a result of vibration. Music creates a special energy field that can carry a positive or negative charge depending on the volume, harmony of the composition, rhythm, and frequency. That is why music was used in therapy, especially to normalize the mental state in ancient times - Plato, Aristotle. They believed that music restores harmony in a person and in the whole world.
The following points are of particular importance when perceiving music:
- The acceptable volume for a person is 60-70 dB, 80 dB is perceived as dangerous, 120 dB is the level of pain, shock (this kind of volume is found at concert venues), and 150-180 dB is a sound level incompatible with life.
- How long does a person listen to music? If it is calm and relaxing music, then you can listen to it for several hours; loud metal music is unlikely to have a positive effect.
- Noise - a person is constantly in a noise environment, a level of 20-30 dB is perceived normally by a person, higher - it negatively affects productivity. If music is heard in the background, then it should not be loud so as not to harm classes or work.
A person’s life flows in a certain rhythm, each organ also works rhythmically, often music sets the mood for work and improves the state of mind. Now there are selections of music - for relaxation (calm compositions, sounds of nature), for sports (dynamic and rhythmic), for the development of children (certain classical compositions, especially Mozart), for combating insomnia (compositions by Tchaikovsky), and helps to cope with headaches Beethoven and Oginsky's Polonaise.
The impact of music on the human psyche is colossal; the most important thing is to learn how to use music correctly in life and not overload your consciousness with heavy and depressive music. You need to find your sources of inspiration. You can make a selection of your favorite songs that bring you back to life in any condition.
Melodies and songs of the 70-90s, classics of modern and foreign pop music, and rock music are very helpful. Everything is very individual, depending on the perception and life experience of a particular person; usually the music of youth and childhood evokes positive feelings, soundtracks, musical compositions from films.
What tools help in diseases
It is interesting that music affects human health; depending on the frequency of operation of each organ, instruments were selected that improve the functioning of the body:
- String instruments (harp, guitar, violin) have a positive effect on the heart, it is recommended to listen more often in case of cardiovascular diseases, a decrease in blood pressure is observed when listening to quiet music.
- Piano has a general effect on a person’s mental state, has a positive effect on the kidneys and the functioning of the thyroid gland.
- Harmony - helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Saxophone has a positive effect on the genitourinary system and sexual energy of a person.
- Bell ringing - treats depressive conditions, has a positive effect on the lungs.
- Pipes have a general strengthening effect and were the first of the instruments used.
- Drum - improves heartbeat, treats liver and circulatory diseases.
- Cymbals are in harmony with the liver and have a positive effect.
Thus, by attending concerts with a live orchestra, listening to classical compositions or other melodic music, a person becomes completely healthy - soul and body. Maybe you should listen to useful music more and visit doctors less?
Musical background creates the illusion of time compression
Every day we encounter music that is in the background. We hear it in hypermarkets, train stations and airports, in banks and other crowded places. Background music serves to “compress” the temporal sensation. A person subconsciously slows down his body movements, completely immersing himself in the present moment without extraneous thoughts.
Often this is slow music with a pleasant motive: lounge, blues or other melody not loaded with lyrics and tempo. When listening to such music, the brain is susceptible to dispersal of attention, decreased irritability, and mental relaxation.
There is a loss of the sense of real time. A person can forget about time for an hour or more. At the same time, he will not experience boredom or increased anxiety. It should be remembered that a mental process is involved in the perception of a melodic background, which limits the assimilation of information, which affects the ability of mental calculation and clear thinking.
What are the “physics” and “chemistry” of musical influence
Human emotions are controlled by the central parts of the brain. Specifically, the hypothalamus, which is a small area in the diencephalon.
The ears receive the sound signal and convert it into a nerve impulse, which travels along the nerve endings to the hypothalamus. And the hypothalamus, in turn, converts nerve impulses into emotional experiences and informs the cerebral cortex about their occurrence.
The cerebral cortex and occipital lobes of the brain are notified of the received sound signal, after which it combines all the information received into certain associations.
The hypothalamus also plays a significant role in synchronizing the biorhythms of the human body: when the rhythmic balanced functioning of organs is disrupted, it receives signals and synchronizes their work, leading to a state of balance and harmony.
The wave vibrations caused by music, which the hypothalamus receives from the hearing organs, are similar to biorhythmic ones. And the hypothalamus processes them in the same way, but it cannot synchronize musical rhythms. Therefore, for example, polytonal or polyrhythmic music causes unpleasant sensations in many people.
The hypothalamus is also home to the pleasure center. When listening to pleasant music, more blood flows to the nerve endings, which stimulates the production of dopamine, a substance that causes a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction.
Sounds have an anesthetic effect
Music has the property of lidocaine and can not only increase the pain threshold, but also completely dissolve the sensation of pain through its effect on human nerve cells.
In some medical institutions, following modern trends, they often play music that is comfortable for the patient during surgical interventions or childbirth.
When using music therapy, a person responds more quickly to anesthetic drugs, and the patient's muscles reach a relaxed state faster. In addition, blood circulation improves, which helps doctors perform surgical procedures.
How to listen to music correctly
Please note that all of the above aspects will only have a positive effect if you listen to music correctly
, without harm to hearing and the body as a whole. There are some tips:
- Adjust volume
wisely. Studies have shown that those who listen to music that is too loud are 80% more likely to have hearing damage. Scientists advise not to turn up the volume louder than a normal conversation. - Don't overwork
your ears. It is not recommended to strain your hearing for more than 4 hours a day. - Use high-quality devices
to play sound. Don't skimp on headphones and speakers.
The best listening option is, of course, headphones. And you don’t bother others, and it’s nice for yourself. This is where the catch lies. Not all types of headphones are equally safe. We will not dwell in detail on the disadvantages of various types of headphones. Let us only note that the safest ones are invoices
and
monitors
.
These headphones are large, massive earpieces connected by a thick hoop. They have excellent soundproofing properties and do not require the volume to be turned up to maximum. It is with monitor monitors that professionals who deal with sound work.
Below are examples of decent noise-canceling headphones. Take pity on your ears and psyche, choose your headphones wisely
.
Video on the topicMusic and its effect on the brain
Music therapy activates memory
The process of listening to music affects an area of the brain called the hippocampus.
The hippocampus is an area of the brain that is responsible for long-term storage of information.
Doctors use this knowledge to help patients suffering from dementia and memory loss. Music is capable of “retrieving” and restoring fragments of lost memories without the use of psychological conversations, even in the most recent stages of mental illness.
Different types of music
Rock music
Observations have shown that the impact of music on the psyche of a rock style person is manifested in increased emotions of a positive and negative nature. At the same time, musical compositions can charge a person with confidence and add determination . Of course, hard rock is difficult for the body to perceive, especially at high volumes. Such music leads to mental damage, a person loses orientation in space, and there may be partial memory loss. Doctors do not recommend overusing metal and hard rock.
Melodic rock can be useful to a certain extent, especially when using live instruments and a soft delivery . Folk elements significantly soften the impact of rock - string instruments (violin, harp) have a positive effect on the human body. As a rule, rock fans have high intellectual abilities and are quite calm personalities if they listen to moderate music. A positive example: “We are the champions” (gr. Queen) - the song is beautiful melodically and has quite strong lyrics, inspiring and energizing. Many successful people call it one of their favorites; it helps to believe in oneself and gain confidence to achieve the highest peaks. By the way, she topped the list of the most favorite songs on the planet.
Pop music
Naturally, pop music of different years differs significantly, and now we can single out works and songs that have become pop classics and carry their own positive charge, especially if the songs have a semantic meaning. Such music can improve people's mood and emotional state .
It is interesting that in Soviet times, the authorities, realizing the influence of music and culture on people, controlled this area and influenced the creation of musical works. The main ideas of the songs were eternal values. The songs brought positivity and faith in the best, and concerts and New Year's Eve evenings were an event in every family.
A separate area is the songs of the war years, they are still loved and often performed, they are imbued with faith in victory, they help even now to gain a charge of energy , to realize the incommensurability of our sorrows and human suffering in those distant years. The songs “Katyusha”, “Cranes”, “Blue Handkerchief” always live in our hearts.
As for the modern stage, the situation has changed - everything is dictated by the market, new music and songs are constantly appearing. At the same time, the person himself determines what will be useful to him and what will not. You need to turn on your internal filter, analyze what emotions the composition evokes, what meaning it carries. Music is spiritual food and is as important as eating healthy .
Modern popular songs are very different, it is difficult to compare and generalize them all, there are some with a positive meaning and sound, but there are not very many of them. Such songs help to distract yourself, lift your spirits, and can serve as a background , but doctors do not recommend listening to a lot of popular music; the effect of music on the psyche of a person of this style is not the best - a large number of monotonous rhythms, memory deterioration and decreased attention may be observed. Development requires varied, melodic music. Positive examples (classics of pop music): “Yesterday” (Ray Charles), “Nadezhda” (Anna German), “Antique Clock” (Alla Pugacheva), “Chervona Ruta” (Sofia Rotaru), “Yellow Leaves” (Margarita Viltsane and Oyar Grinbergs), “My clear little star” (Flowers).
Rap, hip-hop
These styles are also most common among the younger generation, this culture is borrowed from the West. Rap emerged in the 70s among African Americans in the Bronx (New York City). Initially it was used by DJs in discos; its development for commercial purposes came later.
This style is easy to perform, does not require strong vocal abilities, and allows you to freely express thoughts and emotions. However, doctors also observe not the best effects - an increase in aggression, anger, a decrease in emotional tone, and intellectual abilities.
Here, of course, a lot depends on the emotional mood of the performer and the thoughts he conveys to the listeners. This direction can also stimulate activity and sociability . Fans of this genre report that rap also has good songs. Examples of semantic rap: “Never was”, “Rain” (Strike Line). The main thing is the presence of melody and deep meaning in the song, then you can reduce the negative impact of this style.
folk music
Traditional and folk music, as a rule, has a long history; its origins are associated with pagan times. At the same time folk instruments have a positive effect on the body , and singing helps relieve stress and fight diseases of the nervous system, and has a general strengthening effect.
It is useful to sing songs twice a day - in the morning (rhythmic and invigorating songs) and in the evening (calming, lullabies). This music has a beneficial effect on a person’s mood and emotional state. Examples of folk songs: “Thin Rowan Tree”, “Oh Frost, Frost”, “Valenki”, “You Lured Me Away”, “It’s a Monthly Night”, “Mowing Yas Konyushinu”.
Jazz, blues, reggae
Jazz has already acquired the status of the founder of many directions in music; its sounds and combinations are combined and used in other areas of music. It appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, as a result of the fusion of the rhythms of African music with European and, in part, African-American folklore. This direction of music sounds melodic, positive, and energizing .
During the study, scientists noticed that areas of the brain that are responsible for creativity and improvisation are activated, and the ability to solve important life problems improves. Jazz is an excellent remedy against depression, relieves nervous tension, improves mood . Fast compositions lead to an increase in heart rate and improve blood circulation, while slow compositions lower blood pressure and promote general relaxation.
It is interesting that the music performer himself enters a special state, which contributes to the diverse and unique sound of music; his brain works in a special way, using creative potential.
Thus, jazz influences both listeners and musicians.
Examples of famous jazz compositions: “Let It Snow” (Jamie Cullum), I've got you under my skin (Jamie Culllum), Fly me to the moon (Diana Krall), The entertainer (Scott Joplin), Singing in the rain (Gene Kelly).
Club, electronic music
Electronic, club music has now become widespread; many young people prefer this style. However, you should be careful not to overuse this type of music. Studies have shown that constant listening to such compositions reduces learning abilities and negatively affects intellectual abilities.
Perhaps it promotes emotional relief, helps to distract from current problems, but often the impact of music on the psyche of a person of this style is negative - there is increased tension in the nervous system and irritation in behavior. It is better to minimize the influence of such music. Electronic music moves away from its roots, live sound, which has a beneficial effect on the entire human body.
Research has also been conducted on the question: what kind of music do successful people prefer to listen to and what kind does the poor class prefer to listen to? It has been observed that successful people love classics, various styles of jazz, opera, reggae and rock style, while low-income people often listen to country songs, disco music, rap, and heavy metal. Perhaps this is the secret to the success of many successful individuals.
Naturally, every person has favorite music and trends; if your favorite compositions inspire, give strength and help you live, then this is your panacea for the difficulties of life. Favorite music affects a person’s mood and increases resistance to diseases.
Playing music develops the human hearing system
Another sound phenomenon is that listening to music can develop and restore hearing. We are talking about the absence of congenital subtle (musical) hearing or its loss during life.
Polyglots and professional linguists are often inveterate music lovers, which once again confirms the influence of music on the development of human hearing and memory.
It has been proven that 80-year-old musicians have more acute hearing and are able to hear even a whisper on public transport than young people who have nothing to do with music.
Character and musical preferences: is there a relationship?
Having analyzed the musical preferences of more than 35.5 thousand young people from all over the world, scientists concluded that lovers of the same musical genres have many common character traits.
According to observations, fans of “heavy” music are usually calm people, but among them there are many people with low self-esteem. Blues and jazz are more popular with creative, sociable and polite people. This type of music is also often preferred by arrogant and nervous individuals.
Classics are most often preferred by introverts with creative inclinations and a high sense of self-esteem, while passionate opera lovers are, as a rule, creative, open and polite individuals.
Best materials of the month
- Coronaviruses: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- Antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19: how effective are they?
- The most common "office" diseases
- Does vodka kill coronavirus?
- How to stay alive on our roads?
Reggae is the choice of people with high self-esteem, sociable, talented, but lazy. Rhythmic dance motifs do not leave indifferent extroverts with creative abilities, but, as a rule, bad manners. Fans of indie music can boast of not having the best upbringing. In addition, among them there are often very lazy people who underestimate themselves.
Rap is the choice of sociable, but slightly selfish people. Country music is a favorite destination for hardworking and sociable people. But at the same time, people with such musical preferences are more prone to suicide than others.
Musical consonance improves adaptation and increases resistance to stress
Music undoubtedly has a beneficial effect on a person’s adaptation to stressful or difficult situations. It is easier for a person to perceive the environment if tracks from their favorite playlist are playing in their ears. Music increases stress resistance and helps you concentrate on tasks faster.
Cosmonauts have this tradition: before the launch of manned spacecraft, each of the cosmonauts on the active crew downloads two or three favorite tracks. Subsequently, the tracks serve as the basis for a background playlist during the launch of the ship.
Poetry and its influence on people
Since ancient times, people have been surrounded not only by music, but also by poetry, which later combined to form ballads and songs.
Poetry affects a person in the same way as the sounds of melodies. Reading Pushkin, a person plunges into the world of his dreams and fantasies. Not everyone is able to describe natural phenomena and episodes of human life so brightly and rosyly. The reader is captivated by this new world created by the author.
Words carry special energy and affect a person at the subconscious level , which is why psychologists advise using words carefully. There is a wonderful poem by Vadim Shefner “Words” - it contains the following lines:
A word can kill, a word can save,
With a word you can lead the shelves with you.
Poetry influences a person in a special way - it promotes the development of creative potential, develops vocabulary, literacy, innovative thinking, sensitivity to life and its phenomena. Since ancient times, people have wondered: why was poetry given to us? Most likely, to touch the beautiful, the poems of the classics always evoke positive emotions, make you think about life, feel its pristineness and beauty.
Often people are led to poetry by certain feelings and life events that deeply touch the strings of the soul; there is a desire to express what is important and disturbing at that moment in time. Being a poet may be a calling, or it may be an acquired skill. Everything is very individual.
High poetry has always brought culture to people and enriched their lives . Now it is impossible to imagine your life without the great poets - Pushkin, Tyutchev, Lermontov, Yesenin, Goethe, Schiller, Byron, Milton. Each nation had its own classics, which are still revered today. In the modern world, when life moves at high speeds, poetry and music remain in demand; they are the foundation of a culture that ennobles and breathes spirituality into a person.
Music genres can influence gastronomic tastes
Restaurant and grocery store workers have noticed that music can change taste preferences. However, what is news for the buyer has long and successfully served for the benefit of marketing and the restaurant business.
Trade and restaurant workers can easily persuade a person to buy expensive wine or cognac by exposure to background classical or jazz music.
Listening to jazz or classical music is perceived in the subconscious of a person as a sign of adherence to the ruling class. This kind of music gives you a feeling of belonging to successful and rich people.
Obzor.lg.ua
Under the influence of such music, people make purchases for a larger amount than when listening to pop or rock compositions.
An experiment with ethnic folk music showed an interesting tendency to choose one drink or another. In the days of German music, the choice of most buyers fell on the purchase of quality beer products and ciders. French motives encouraged the purchase of different types of wine, and on days when Irish bagpipes sounded, mostly whiskey was purchased. In the process of surveying customers, it turned out that they did not attach any importance to music at the time of purchase.
Mood
Anyone has noticed the impact music has on the general psychological state. When listening to your favorite songs, if they carry a charge of positive emotions, your mood inevitably improves. That is why many are inclined to believe that it is worth giving preference to cheerful compositions. The effects of music on mood are not limited to positive influences. It may vary from genre to genre.
It is recommended to listen to cheerful positive radio in the morning to quickly wake up, get a boost of energy, and want to achieve all your goals. In the evening, it is better to give preference to calm compositions that will relax you, distract you from problems, force you to get the best quality rest, and help prepare your body for a sound sleep.
The impact of music on your mood allows you to take complete control of it. The right choice of compositions will help in any work.
interesting fact
Many scientists are inclined to believe that humpback whales create musical compositions using all the elements familiar to people.
