Music & Your Brain

How music affects our brain by Melissa Gosaynie

Peer graded project for Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life

1. HOW MUSIC
AFFECTS
OUR BRAIN
By Melissa Gosaynie

2. Most of us have experienced an emotional and physical
response to a music. We feel the suspense during a scary movie
when the orchestra starts to build; we get a lump in our throats
when we hear a sad song that reminds us of someone we have
lost; we get the chills when the song that reminds us of a crush
comes on. What causes these responses? You may be
surprised to see how many areas of the brain music affects!

3. 1.Frontal Lobe
2.Parietal Lobe
3.Temporal Lobe
4.Occipital Lobe
5.Cerebellum

4. Music enhances
the function of the
frontal lobe which
is the area we use
for decision
making.
The temporal lobe is
where sound is
processed. The
lyrical part of the
song is interpreted
in the left
hemisphere and the
music by the right
hemisphere.

6. 1.Sound waves reach the outer
ear.
2.The sound waves vibrate the
eardrum and tiny bones in the
middle ear.
3.They then pass to the inner
ear.
4.The tiny hair cells in the
cochlear react to different
tones and pitches.
5.The tones and pitches turn
into electrical signals.
6.The signals are carried by the
cochlear nerve system into
the brain’s cerebral cortex.

7. Dopamine levels in the brain rise by about 9%
when a person is listening to music they like.

8. We have distinct
physiological reactions
when we are hearing
music we like. Our eyes
dilate, our pulse changes,
our brain releases
dopamine...Our brain’s
reaction helps us
understand that we want to
hear that song again. We
do not stop to think that
our cerebellum is
becoming quite active, but
that is exactly what is
happening.

11. Music can increase neurogenesis in the
hippocampus. That means that we can actually
improve our memory by listening to music with the
productions of new neurons.

12. The auditory cortex automatically fills in rhythm of
a song, which is what gives us an “earworm” or
cognitive itch that gets songs stuck in our head.

15. Listening to your favorite music is a great way to give several
parts of your brain a workout.
The stronger your brain becomes, the quicker you can access
both parts of the brain. This means that if both left and right
parts of the brain work together quickly, you have
●Immensely better problem solving skills
●improved memory retrieval
●a more logical clearer way of thinking, including;
●better language skills
●a healthier brain as you age
●less memory loss
So enjoy your favorite music as much as possible!

16. https://www.brainpost.co/brainpost-life-hacks/
2021/3/9/what-is-the-effect-of-music-on-the-b
rain-djmk2
https://www.neuroscientificallychallenged.co
m/blog/2014/5/23/know-your-brain-hippocam
pus
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/opinion/
sunday/why-music-makes-our-brain-sing.html
https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/re
sources-for-educators/classroom-resources/
media-and-interactives/media/music/your-brai
n-on-music/your-brain-on-music/your-brain-o
n-music-the-sound-system-between-your-ear
s/
References