The relationship between psychology and music is closely intertwined between the constitution of psychology as a scientific discipline and the idea of ​​musical facts. The first studies, in the 50s of the 20th century, referred to acoustic perception and the ability of individuals to discriminate the pitch of sounds, assessing whether people were endowed with “absolute pitch” that distinguished vowels. were able to recognize; In this sense, the actions of the Hungarians were geza ravezA true pioneer of the psychology of music.
According to fence (2002), the psychology of music or music psychology is a specialization of psychology that aims at the mind’s responses to musical stimuli, the modalities in which it amplifies, modulates and evaluates the benefits. Understanding a piece of music, in general, activates a complex network of cognitive abilities that underlie abilities such as remembering, paying attention, or analyzing structures. The study of cognitive processes applied to music is the result of a long gestation that has its roots in the first experiments of scientific psychology.
Several psychoacoustics investigations have investigated at what age and how a child’s ability to understand music develops: already at 8 months, the child completes auditory development, spontaneously producing babbling songs (babbling songs). Is, enjoys doing it and repeats such vocalizations with a certain frequency, as well as vocalizes single syllables.
Not only this, but by four months he can properly move his eyes vertically when hearing a loud or soft sound. The child’s responses are motor or vocal in the first 3 years: he can recognize short melodies and sing musical tracks with a tonal extension of the descending minor third (for example, sol-me) by age 3 which is a matches the sound of mermaid or song; Then he discriminates rhythmic structures and reproduces them with his hand beats at the age of five.
Arthur Schopenhauer: “In music all emotion returns to its pure state and the world becomes nothing but music.”
From the age of 7, musical ability develops even further, to discriminate different melodic intervals, to distinguish individual notes from chords. This is all due to greater cognitive abilities and a process of “tonal learning”, according to which from the age of 6 our ear becomes more sensitive to the sounds it hears.
Finally, around the age of 12, he completes his musical development, thus becoming able to recognize the rhythm of a melody, to discern combinations between notes, or dissonant harmonies, and to make aesthetic judgments of music. begins to appear.
In the effects of music on emotion it is known that the intervals between tones are responsible for highly reproducible responses between different individuals; Compositions for semitones create tension, while the interval of fifths (C–G) is so perfect and pleasant that it is the musical equivalent of a circle in the figurative arts.
Music is often considered “Language of feelings”: Its ability to evoke and express emotion is its fundamental and primary characteristic. Music expresses feelings that listeners experience, identify with, or are emotionally touched by. Furthermore, several studies have suggested that the most common reasons for listening to music are to be able to influence emotions, modify them, release them, tune in to their emotional state, cheer themselves up, or relax or reduce them. . Tension.
A study done in 2003 by Adrian Northfrom the University of Leicester, England, showed that patrons of a luxury restaurant choose the most expensive items on the menu if sophisticated, classical music is played in the room. According to North, this is because customers who listen to classical music perceive themselves as more sophisticated people; Thus, to stay true to their own image, they left no stone unturned when it came to the wine list.
it’s a mechanism called the effect Chateau Lafite And, unconsciously, it confirms how capable we are of perceiving the emotional value of music and how it affects our senses. This phenomenon is often called “The Soundtrack of Our Lives”This is due to the strong connection between music and the hippocampus, an area of ​​the brain that is important for forming and retrieving memories. This is why music is often used in therapy for conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, familiar tunes may help patients recall past experiences and improve their cognitive function
Music engages multiple areas of the brain, demonstrating a complex interplay between auditory processing, emotion, and memory centers. It triggers emotion through the release of our brain’s pleasure molecule dopamine, which explains the pleasure we often find in a favorite song. Additionally, music’s power to evoke vivid memories highlights its connection to the hippocampus, our memory storage center.
This wide-ranging effect of music on our brainstem is also used in medical contexts, such as treating neurological disorders or improving mental health.
Important facts:
Several areas of the brain are involved when we listen to or create music, including the auditory cortex, prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, and hippocampus.
Music has a profound effect on our emotions because of its interaction with the brain’s reward system, particularly through the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.
The connection between music and the hippocampus, an area of ​​the brain important for forming and retrieving memories, is why music is often used in treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Often considered a universal language, music has the profound ability to evoke emotions, memories and even physiological responses like tapping your toes or nodding your head.
Neuroscience is beginning to answer these questions, revealing a symphony of activity that helps us understand why music is so powerful. Listening to or playing music affects several areas of the brain, making it a great exercise for the mind. Thus, the auditory cortex decodes elements such as pitch and volume, while frontal regions, including the prefrontal cortex, process the emotional content of music; The motor cortex gets involved when we tap our foot to a beat or play an instrument, and the hippocampus, an area associated with memory, links music to our past experiences and feelings.
Music and memory evoke echoes of the past, thus music has a unique connection with our memories. An old song can transport us to a specific place and time, evoking vivid emotions.
This phenomenon is often called “The Soundtrack of Our Lives”That’s because of the strong connection between music and the hippocampus, an area of ​​the brain that’s important for forming and retrieving memories.
This is why music is often used in the treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Familiar tunes can help patients recall past experiences and improve their cognitive function.
Given its profound effects on the brain, it is not surprising that music is increasingly being used as a therapeutic tool. Music therapy has shown promise in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, depression, and stroke.
By harnessing the emotional, cognitive, and motor stimulation that music provides, therapists can help patients improve their mood, cognition, and motor function.
Studies have shown that music training can improve cognitive abilities. Playing an instrument or singing requires complex motor and cognitive skills, which stimulate the brain’s plasticity, the ability to change and adapt as a result of experience. This can lead to improvements in areas such as language development, attention, memory, and even spatiotemporal skills, which are important for solving complex math problems.
Given its profound effects on the brain, it is not surprising that music is increasingly being used as a therapeutic tool. Music therapy has shown hope in the treatment of a variety of conditions including illness, depression, and stroke. By using the emotional, cognitive, and motor stimulation that music provides, therapists can help patients improve their mood, cognition, and motor function.
Finally, the neuroscience of music is a rapidly growing field that continues to reveal the broad and profound ways in which music interacts with our brains. It is not just an art form, but a powerful tool that can bring about emotional, cognitive and even physical changes, underscoring its important role in our lives and society.
Finally, share this reflection of the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer:“In music all emotion returns to its pure state and the world becomes nothing but music.
