Everybody loves music. There is a huge variety of music
genres in the world and personally, I’ve yet to meet someone who says they hate
all music. Have you ever wondered why your mood tends to improve when you’re
listening to your favorite band or composer? That would be thanks to the
chemical dopamine.
Dopamine, often referred to as the “happy chemical”, is a
neurotransmitter that is connected to the reward system of the brain. It is
released in the striatum of the brain. Dopamine is released in response to naturally
rewarding stimuli such as food, intimacy, and exercise. It can also be released
as a result of artificial stimuli, such as the drugs cocaine and amphetamine. Studies
have shown that this same chemical tends to be released when listening to and
playing music as well. Dopamine is released during the peak emotional moment of
a song also in the seconds leading up to it, during the anticipation phase. Numerous
scientific studies have been done that show a strong correlation between music
and happiness.
In a study from McGill University in Montreal, Canada,
researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques to scan the brains of the study’s participants
as they listened to music. The researchers found that when the test subjects
were listening to music they enjoyed, their levels of dopamine transmission
were up to 9% higher than when not listening to music. It was also found that
when the volunteers experienced a “chill” at the peak moments of songs, they
were feeling maximum pleasure; the most amounts of dopamine were being
transmitted at these times.
An Australian study used data from the annual Australian
Unity Wellbeing Index survey to look at the correlation between music and
happiness. They found that Australian citizens who either listened to music,
sang, played an instrument, composed music or attended music-oriented events
had higher levels of happiness than those who did none of the previously listed
activities. This study also found that those who physically attended live music
events rather than just listening to music on the radio had higher happiness
levels.
There is also some evidence that music, especially music
with a slower tempo and of the classical genre, has the ability to help reduce
stress and anxiety. This in turn boosts your happiness levels as well. A study
was done where patients who were about to undergo surgery either took
anti-anxiety medicine or listened to music. Their anxiety ratings and cortisol levels
(also known as the stress hormone) were tracked. It was found that the patients
who listened to music had lower cortisol levels and less anxiety than those who
took the anti-anxiety drugs.
To put it simply, the more you listen to music, the happier
you’ll be!
Sources:
Very interesting topic. Great title. It might be helpful to label the structures of dopamine and cortisol. Very good explanation of the neurochemistry. Good general interest sources. Links to the sources within the text would be helpful.
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