Listening to music has numerous benefits for the brain’s well-being. Just as we go to the gym to strengthen our bodies, music is a form of exercise for our brains. When a stereo system emits vibrations, they travel through the air and enter our ear canals. These vibrations stimulate the eardrum and are converted into electrical signals that travel through the auditory nerve to the brain stem. In the brain stem, the signals are reconstructed into what we perceive as music.
Research indicates that listening to music can reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, alleviate pain, improve sleep quality, enhance mood, boost mental alertness, and enhance memory.
Akanksha Kothari, child psychologist, counsellor and founder of Azaad Panchi, Bengaluru, emphasises that music can activate almost all regions and networks of the brain. Consequently, it can help maintain the strength of various brain pathways and networks associated with well-being, learning, cognitive function, quality of life, and happiness. “Music can especially help children with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder by channelising their energy to one path,” she says.
Watch – Understanding music therapy
In the brain, there are shared neural substrates between language and music and music can be used to improve language functions, explains Dr Shanatala Hegde, additional professor and neuropsychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.
Read more – Dancing minds: harnessing the dance-brain connect
It is not without reason that dance has been a part of societies for centuries, serving as a form of expression, celebration, and communication. Studies have found that dance helps improve brain health. The infographic showcases the benefit of dance on brain health
Read more – How dance therapy helps children with autism
Dance therapy helps children with autism enhance their communication and social skills — and overall well-being too.
