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The Power of Music Therapy for Healing
Sandra Markcrow
Nov 25, 2012

Music can be a powerful therapy for improving health and altering states of mind. Almost everybody has had the experience of hearing a particular musical piece and instantly feeling uplifted, happier, relaxed and content. Listening to music affects both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously and when the music is being enjoyed, the brain releases endorphins, the feel good hormones. Many studies have been performed using magnetic resonance imaging to study what happens in the human brain when different forms of music are being played with interesting results. This article discusses the effects of music upon the brain, the power of music to heal and the health applications of music therapy.

The Effect of Music upon the Brain

The left and right hemispheres of the brain perform different tasks. The left hemisphere is responsible for analytical thinking, speech and calculations. The right hemisphere is responsible for intuition, creativity and imagination. The corpus callosum is the structure between the two hemispheres and acts as a means of communication between the two hemispheres. When instrumental music is played, the right hemisphere of the brain is activated. When both instrumental and lyrics are combined, both the hemispheres are activated and information is exchanged between the two hemispheres via the corpus callosum.

Time can be distorted when listening to music. Listening to music with slow, rhythmic tempos distorts our perception of virtual time. Whether we are paying attention to the music or it is being played in the background with little attention, our brains involuntarily lose track of virtual time and time can be perceived as slowing down. Upbeat tempos have the opposite effect on the perception of time; the brain perceives virtual time as speeding up.

An interesting experiment was performed using magnetic resonance imaging. Robert Zattore performed an experiment in which he observed a subject who imagined he was listening to a piece of music, whilst the brain was being scanned. The result showed that the motor cortex of the brain lit up, almost as vividly as if the music was actually being listened to. When the subject imagined playing a musical instrument, the auditory cortex of the brain lit up as it would if the instrument was actually being played.

Different forms of music produce different frequencies or wave lengths. The wavelengths being perceived causes the brain to resonate with that frequency. Naturally some people are more creative than others. It is believed that creative people’s brains produce huge bursts of alpha waves which feed their creativity. High level Beta waves tend to be associated with negative feelings such as anger, resentment, guilt, anxiety, stress, fatigue and depression. Theta waves are associated with the dreaming state and relaxation. Delta waves are associated with deep relaxation, trance states and altered states. Music can therefore be played using the four different frequencies to change the frequency of the brain. Understanding this connection with music and the brain has allowed therapist to use music as tool for health.

Music Therapy and Health

Alpha waves, low level beta waves and theta waves in music are the most commonly used frequencies in music therapy. Relaxation and stress relief play an important role in both prevention of disease and providing the best atmosphere for healing. Holistic therapies not only just treat the disease; it takes a broader look at the body and mind connection. Music therapies are used to positively alter mental states, relax the body as a whole and provide an optimum environment for recovery. Music can decrease the heart rate, relax muscles, induce sleep, change blood pressure and reduce body temperature. It can provide a distraction from pain sensations, reduce stress and anxiety. Today music therapy is used in many hospitals, nursing homes, group therapy sessions to counteract depression, in schools to help special needs children, in prisons and for pregnant mothers during labor and delivery. It is also used to induce meditative states and many sports athletes use music therapy prior to competing.

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