Interesting Psychological Facts About Music

Kaya
Updated on 2023-06-29
Music is the language of the soul. But what's the science behind all of this? Here are seven psychological facts about music.


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Music is the language of the soul. For thousands of years, humans have been creating songs and symphonies which enthrall. inspire and hypnotize. Our history and our culture are closely entwined with musical notes. It should come as no surprise that music has a profound effect on the human mind. We've all felt it before; music helps us relax, gives us goosebumps, and encourages us to push ourselves to the limit. But what's the science behind all of this? Here are seven psychological facts about music.

The Mozart Effect

the Mozart Effect is one of the most famous scientific concepts surrounding music. It was developed by Dr. Gordon Shaw a few decades ago, and the premise is simple; classical music makes you smarter. He claimed that listening to classical music can raise your IQ by up to 9 points in his research. The primary basis for this line of thought has to do with spatial reasoning. This type of brain activity is used in math, chess, engineering, and science. According to the Mozart Effect, classical music boosts spatial reasoning considerably.

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Maybe it's time to start playing some Mozart while we study.

Music therapy helps repair brain damage

Brain damage is one of the most discussed topics in the world of psychology. Some people suffering from brain damage go through tremendous pain and discomfort, and their life is seriously impacted. But what if music could help? New research shows that music can repair brain damage, and it's been hypothesized that music therapy could be responsible for neurogenesis, which is the birth of new brain cells.

Hearing music in your dreams is incredibly rare

Thinking about every dream you've ever had, can you remember hearing music in a single dream? If you're like the vast majority of the population, you've probably never heard so much as a jingle in your dreams. According to a 2018 study, only 6% of all remembered dreams include music. Unsurprisingly, you're much more likely to hear music in your dreams if you're a musician or someone who listens to many pieces of music. But even then, the number is still deficient.

Your entire brain is activated when you listen to music

There aren't many activities that make your whole brain light up, but listening to music is one of them. When you listen to music, there's not a single part of your brain that isn't activated—parts of the brain responsible for emotions. Creativity and even motor functions are working while listening to music, so put on your favorite song if you're looking for a total brain workout.

Music can improve language proficiency

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The relationship between language and music is one of the fascinating things in the world of psychology. To put it simply, these two things are very closely linked to one another.

A 2012 study pointed out that music and language are not separate functions in the brain despite what previous research suggested. Traditionally, speech functions were thought to exist in the brain's left hemisphere, while music functions existed in the right hemisphere. But today, it's widely accepted that both hemispheres are responsible for music and speech. What this means is that music functions can improve speech functions and vice versa. In a sense, both activities are working the same muscle.

Your taste in music says a lot about your personality

Have you ever wondered why you like certain music? Have you ever wondered why your favorite songs might sound terrible to others? The answer lies in our unique personalities. Numerous studies have shown that if you like a particular musical genre, you're probably going to have certain personality traits. For example, a 2004 study found that extroverts were more likely interested in music in general, but they were also more likely to enjoy pop music. That's just one example, and there's tons of research on this one topic. Think about your favorite song. What does it say about your personality?

Music therapy helps children with autism

Remember what we said about music lighting up the entire brain? Well, this makes music therapy an ideal choice for children with autism. When both hemispheres are activated, children are self-aware while still forming relationships with others. Research has shown that this type of therapy is incredibly beneficial for autistic children as it encourages them to interact with their instruments and communicate with others in a band. They are ultimately creating music in a collaborative effort.

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What do you think your favorite songs say about you? Thanks for reading!