Music is instinctual among humans. Our reactions to the genres of music we enjoy are universal. Yet new studies prove that the effects of music may be more than physical. As science holds it, the brain’s reaction to music may be the key to relieving anxiety and stress in our strenuous Berkeley lives.

Why are we so naturally inclined to make and listen to music? Humans have always channeled their emotions and intelligence through different forms of media. Music has been a way to express the deeply rooted and innermost thoughts of the individual’s brain. Listening to music has an effect on the brain similar to the effects drugs have. After hearing a song you enjoy, the release of dopamine triggers the “reward” area of your brain. This happy hormone is  the reason we continue to listen to music despite the occasional inconvenience.   

How does this affect students? Activity in the regions of the brain associated with reward, movement, memory, attention and planning are just some of the beneficial effects associated with finding personalized music. When listening to music, our brains do much more than just acknowledge its presence. We use every part of the brain to compute and analyze the rhythm, melody and lyrics of music as organized sound. The organizational benefits coincide with improvements in reading comprehension, math, speech and language. Familiar music increases cognitive arousal and the relief of stress hormones assists with focus as well as relaxation.  

How do I find out which type of music benefits me the most? That depends on the emotions you feel while listening; your reactions are major indicators of how you process sound. A tempo of 60 beats per second tends to relieve stress hormones and relax the mind. If the song you’re listening to makes you happy and you’re enjoying it, it will benefit you. The more you enjoy certain kinds of music, the better your brain reacts.

When should I be listening to music? Many students take time every single day to listen to music and relax. In most cases, students find it helpful to take the time to listen to music on their drive home from school or before completing a tedious assignment. Our very own Dr. Tavarez gave a few tips on how to best incorporate music into our daily lives. “Some ways to incorporate music into your daily schedules [include] listen[ing] to music while you exercise, when in the bath or shower, in the morning when you’re getting ready for the day… or anytime you need a quick pick-me-up or stress reliever.”

With the beginning of a new marking period, hopefully the Berkeley community will continue to incorporate music into their hours of studying and into their daily lives. With big goals in mind, it’s also important that we carve out time to listen to music to relieve stress in the future.