Music is our clean gateway to Utopia. Those magical tunes have more right doing than just releasing dopamine, the feel-good chemical. We keep on repeating the same song for a reason; here are 12 facts you didn’t know about the power of music:
1- Origins of the Word “Music”
The word “Music” comes from Muses, the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts in Greek mythology.
2- Jazzy Brain
Research has found that when Jazz musicians improvise, their brains turn off areas associated with self-censoring and inhibition and turn on areas that allow self-expression to flow.
3- Post-Stroke Recovery
In Finland, stroke patients listened to music for a couple of hours each day. Verbal memory and attention span improved drastically in comparison to patients who received no music stimulation.
4- Improves IQ
A study conducted on 8-11 year-olds showed that those who had extracurricular music classes developed higher verbal IQ and visual abilities.
5- Decreases Depression
Modern research confirms that cheerful music, such as Mozart, Klezmer, Salsa and Reggae, are the most needed prescription for your blues.
6- Reduces Blood Pressure
People with high blood pressure listened to relaxing recordings (Celtic Ragas) every morning for 30 minutes as a training to lower their blood pressure according to a research reported by the American Society of Hypertension meeting in New Orleans.
7- Singing Out Loud
It’s scientifically proven that singing out loud tends to lower stress, relieve anxiety and elevate endorphins. Sing at the top of your lungs!
8- Prevents Crime
Playing classical music recordings in a few dozen train stations in 2003 in London showed 18 months later a decrease by 37% in vandalism, 33% in robberies and 25% in assaults on staff. Time to burst classical music in our tube stations and notice the change.
9- It’s Addictive
Listening to your favorite song over and over again simply lets your brain secrete dopamine to experience the same chills again.
10- Promotes Growth of Plants
A study by Dr. T.C. Singh, head of the Botany Department at India’s Annamalai University showed a growth rate acceleration by 20% in height and 72% in biomass in the balsam plants when exposed to music. The same experiment was later repeated with crops, and they showed an increase of 25-60% above the regional average.
11- Boosts Milk Production in Cows
A stress free cow produces more milk by listening to music. Music distracts cows, helps them stay calm and release oxytocin, a hormone that is related to the milking process.
And here is a video of elephants swaying to the violin for a brighter day.