Music is a popular source of entertainment, but did you also know that there are many different benefits of listening to music? If you’re struggling with pains or looking to improve cognitive functions, music is proven to help. Check out these benefits and try listening to music to improve your well-being.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Listening to Music
Humans are born with the ability to differentiate noise from the sounds of music. Several studies have explored music’s effect on memory, mental health, and physical functions. These studies show many benefits of listening to music, and they suggest the following positive effects:
Improves Fitness Performance
When exercising, music is a great accompaniment for boosting performance. You can comfortably listen to your favorite motivational songs through these wireless headphones to enhance aerobic exercise. It will also improve your mental and physical stimulation.
Puts You in a Better Mood
Many studies have shown that music is linked to improving your overall mood. It releases dopamine that helps regulate emotions, increases excitement, and promotes relaxation.
Reduces Stress
When you’re feeling stressed, music with a slow tempo and low pitch can help you feel less anxious. Studies have shown that playing music helps calm people down. This is a great tool when you find yourself in a stressful situation.
Helps With Depression
Since hormones are directly affected by music, it can decrease symptoms of depression. Classical or relaxing music also helps your body release serotonin and dopamine. This is a great natural anti-depressant for more than 264 million people who suffer from depression.
Improves Sleep
Studies have shown that listening to relaxing genres of music before bed reduces insomnia. While linked to our hormones, music stimulates comfort and promotes calm feelings. This is why listening to music within an hour of falling asleep can help you get a good night’s sleep.
Enhances Verbal Intelligence
Music proves to have a “transfer effect” that increases children’s comprehension skills. The study suggests that 90% of children from ages 4 to 6 had increased verbal intelligence after taking a month of music lessons. Studies also showed that musical training improves verbal skills in adults as well.
Raises IQ
Heightened IQ and academic performance are linked to music lessons. Research shows that young children had higher academic and IQ scores after taking keyboard or vocal lessons. Those in the vocal lesson category had the most impressive responses.
Improves Memory and Cognition
Listening to music has shown an increase in cognitive abilities and improved memory. Depending on your level of musical performance or enjoyment of listening to certain music, you can learn and recall information more efficiently.
Helps You Eat Less
Having music playing alongside your meal has resulted in healthier food consumption. If you’re trying to lose weight or limit overeating, listening to music while eating makes you consume your food more slowly. This helps you become more aware of feeling full and eat less.
Reduces Physical Pain
Studies for fibromyalgia patients have shown that listening to music an hour a day reduces pain. The control group saw significantly better results compared to non-music listeners. This suggests that music therapy can help treat symptoms of chronic pain.
Comforts Premature Babies
Playing music for babies, especially premature ones, leads to better vitals and behaviors. Those who play lullabies for their babies witness better functions overall. This includes better feeding behaviors, sucking patterns, and longer periods of quiet alert states.
Helps Autistic Children
Studies on children on the autism spectrum have shown improved abilities that are linked to music. Music therapy has helped autistic children improve their communication skills, attention, and social responses.
Keep Listening
While entertaining, there are also numerous health benefits of listening to music. While the effects of music on humans are continuously being studied, we’re finding that there’s a link to improved well-being and music. So keep moving, ease your pain, and relax to your favorite songs.
If you found this information useful, be sure to bookmark our site and come back often for new content.