The Cognitive Benefits of Listening to a Diverse Musical Selection

By: Kaylee Smith

Did you know that music benefits your brain? Like how we work our bodies, music provides exercise and training for our brains by stimulating different areas. This stimulation causes for increases in high-level tasks for your brain such as memory enhancement, planning skills, and/or cognitive branching.[i],[ii] To understand how music interacts with and benefits our brains, it is important to know a little more in-depth information about what controls every aspect of our bodies.

*Image Courtesy of Storyset via Freepik.com*

A Simple Anatomy of the Brain

Three main sections make up the brain: the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. The cerebrum, the largest section of the brain, is then divided into the left brain and right brain.[iii] You might be familiar with these terms or have heard the question: “Are you a left-brained person or a right-brained person?” This question alludes to the different tasks each side of the brain accomplishes. According to the Mayfield Clinic, “In general, the left hemisphere controls speech, comprehension, arithmetic, and writing. The right hemisphere controls creativity, spatial ability, artistic, and musical skills.” Next, these hemispheres are divided into lobes: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe. Each lobe has its specific function, varying in size and frequency of use. If you would like to know more about the different parts of the brain, you can watch this video.

How the Brain Processes Music

When sound enters the ear, vibrations reach the eardrum and are converted to an electrical signal. When converted to this signal, the sound we hear is now able to be interpreted by the brain.[iv] Research shows that once the signal has reached the brain, it is interpreted through many parts of the brain from the auditory cortex to the amygdala, and the memory and motor systems. In fact, research has found that different parts of the brain take responsibility for analyzing different aspects of a musical selection, including key, rhythm, melody, and emotion.[v]

The frontal lobe is responsible for understanding the music you hear. Does it make sense? Sometimes, you might hear a song and just know something is a little off about it. You can thank your frontal lobe for that! The frontal lobe is also responsible for control of your personality and decision making.[vi] Your temporal lobe is in charge of processing language, which is the lyrics you hear in a song or the language it is sung in. The temporal lobe controls language during everyday life as well, so music is an enjoyable way to strengthen that part of the brain. The amygdala, or the emotion center, creates the reaction you have to a song. Do you ever hear a song and are taken back to a specific place in time? You can remember right where you were when you heard it, what happened, or how you felt. Your amygdala is responsible for the emotional response you have to hearing a certain collection of sounds.[vii] The areas of your brain that are activated by music also control your movements, thoughts, and emotions. By “working out” these areas of your brain through music, you are increasing the brain’s ability to complete the other tasks it is responsible for.

Different Genres of Music and Your Brain

While we all possess our musical preferences and tastes, some benefits arise from listening to different genres of music. You might have your playlist for the gym, a different playlist for studying, and a different playlist for cooking dinner or cleaning the house. Little did you know— you are actually helping your brain, which in turn benefits you as a whole. From pop to metal to jazz, each genre brings something new to attribute to your overall wellbeing.

Classical

As a classical musician myself, I am aware of the wide breadth of classical music. Through my experiences in college, I have played in a jazz band, professional orchestra, marching band, and chamber ensembles- which are all very different styles of music. Pieces differing completely in style, mood, or even basic elements like tempo or key have been grouped into one massive genre. For example, the classical genre could range from Claude Debussy’s peaceful and enchanting Clair de Lune to the riveting and intense Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner. While this genre varies so greatly, research has found its effects to be homogenous. One study showed classical music has shown to create feelings of calmness, peace, and tranquility while also lowering blood pressure, reducing signs of depression, and improving healing.[viii] Many students also enjoy listening to classical music while they study to help clear their minds of distraction and focus on their work.

Metal and Hard Rock

Contrary to popular belief, research has found that metal and hard rock have a similar calming effect to classical music, providing a source of expression and anger management.[ix] Listening to this genre has led to enhanced positive emotions and sadness regulation.[x] Perhaps when you are feeling angry or frustrated, try listening to this genre to release some of that frustration healthily. You might even find a new favorite song or band!

Pop, Country, and Other Upbeat Genres

It is not surprising that upbeat, happy-sounding and rhythmically motivated music creates a positive emotion that inspires you to get up and move. Pop music is often used for exercising, as the high beats per minute (BPM) move the music forward and pumps you up. Pop and country have also been noted to increase relaxation and comfortableness.[xi] Most pop songs have a positive message and high BPM, and those benefits are passed to the listener by improving their mood and increasing their energy.

Daily Implications

After reading about what different genres can offer, the next question I had was: “what do I do about this?” By combining multiple of these genres, one can reap the most benefits music has to offer. This can be as easy as finding a new playlist, conferring with friends about their musical tastes, or listening to a new radio station each day during your morning commute.

Worried you will choose the wrong genre? Don’t worry—research also finds that music rarely solicits responses of anger, jealousy, embarrassment, fear, etc., which we all try to avoid.[xii] You can now listen to music and know that you are doing something great for your brain! By continuing to “work out” different areas of your brain, music is helping us become more in tune with ourselves.

[i] Ranjith, C., & Hema, C. R. (2012). A review on influence of different genres of music on human brain. 3.

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[ii] Alnajjar, F., Yamashita, Y., & Tani, J. (2013). The hierarchical and functional connectivity of higher-order cognitive mechanisms: Neurorobotic model to investigate the stability and flexibility of working memory. Frontiers in Neurorobotics, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbot.2013.00002

[iii] Mayfield Brain & Spine. (2018, April). Anatomy of the brain. Mayfield Brain & Spine. https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-anatbrain.htm

[iv] Keep your brain young with music. (2022, April 13). [John Hopkins Medicine]. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/keep-your-brain-young-with-music

[v] Warren, J. (2008). How does the brain process music? Clinical Medicine, 8(1), 32–36. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.8-1-32

[vi] A crash course on how your brain processes music. (2022). [Incadence Music Therapy Blog]. https://www.incadence.org/post/a-crash-course-on-how-your-brain-processes-music#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20the%20prefrontal,particularly%20enjoyable%20and%20stand%20out.

[vii] A crash course on how your brain processes music. (2022). [Incadence Music Therapy Blog]. https://www.incadence.org/post/a-crash-course-on-how-your-brain-processes-music#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20the%20prefrontal,particularly%20enjoyable%20and%20stand%20out.

[viii] Rea, C., Macdonald, P., & Carnes, G. (2010). Listening to classical, pop, and metal music: An investigation of mood. 3.

[ix] How music genres affect the brain. (2022, June 16). Itssaraglows. https://itssaraglows.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/how-music-genres-affect-the-brain/

[x] Sharman, L., & Dingle, G. A. (2015). Extreme metal music and anger processing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00272

[xi] Rea, C., Macdonald, P., & Carnes, G. (2010). Listening to classical, pop, and metal music: An investigation of mood. 3.

[xii] Zentner, M., Granjean, D., & Scherer, K.R. (2008) Emotions Evoked by the Sound of Music: Characterization, Classification, and Measurement.