Sunday 26 November 2017

MUSIC IN OUR VEINS…AND IN OUR BRAINS


Have you ever listened to a song that made you feel happy or sad? If the answer is yes, there are many scientific reasons why music affects your mood, brain and body.


INTRODUCTION

The first musical instrument was found in Slovenia in a Neanderthal site. It's about 43,000 years old. It's a sort of flute with two finger holes made on a bone. 

Some researchers say that's just a bone with puncture wounds left by an animal chewing on it. But how can we know that?

Anyway , we know music itself is certainly older. According to researchers our distant ancestors used it to communicate when language didn't exist yet. There are also some proofs which leads the origin of music in a deeper time. Researchers found that monkeys can distinguish sounds similar to how humans recognize differences between melodies.


MUSIC AND CHEMISTRY


One of the reasons why we feel good while listening to music is dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter released by rewarding experiences such as love, sex, food and drugs.

Researchers from McGill University in Montreal studied a group of people while listening to music. They found that levels of dopamine were 9% higher when volunteers were listening to music they found enjoyable.

Therefore, music is sometimes used as an alternative way to feel excitement, relaxation and security by addicts who come into treatment.

Music also helps our body to feel tired later. According to Dr. Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University's School of Sport and Education music blocks nerves' messages of fatigue while for example we're doing exercise improving our endurance.


EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON MIND AND BODY

 
  • Raises IQ and academic performances
  • Increases verbal intelligence
  • Decreases stress
  • Improves performances in sports
  • Strengthens memory and learning

DOES PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT MAKE YOU SMARTER?

Well, the answer is yes. If you want to know more about it, take a look at this video! 



Do you play any instrument? If you don’t, would you like to? Let us know in the comments!


Lucrezia M. & Kendra




4 comments:

  1. Well done girls!
    I knew that music makes you feel good because of dopamine, but you explained me a lot of things I didn't know!
    I used to play guitar, but sadly I haven't much freetime.

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  2. Good post girls! I don’t play any instrument,but I love listening to music and now,that I know it increases my intelligence,I’ll start listening to music more!

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  3. We all love music and now, after reading your post, even more! Thanks a lot, Lucrezia and Kendra!

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  4. Interesting post girls. I played piano when I was you younger. I love all kind of music. 🔝

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