Music is a wonderful invention that has continued to grow ...



Natalie PetersJason SmithBritish Literature6 November 2017Music in the Mind Research has shown musical therapy improves cognitive functions and can cure mental diseases such as Alzheimer's and Dementia. In the early 1900s, an experiment was conducted after hypothesizing that listening to classical music could improve memory. "The most famous theory linking music and cognitive performance is the ‘Mozart effect’, the idea that listening to Mozart makes you smarter... music - particularly classical - can improve exam results" (Baker). After testing this theory, results came out positive. Students who listened scored higher grades than those who worked silently or listened something different. This trend continued for many decades until classical music became unpopular.When we hear music, every part of the brain is involved. A researcher from Ashford University says, "One of the first things that happens when music enters our brains is the triggering of pleasure centers that release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy. This response is so quick, the brain can even anticipate the most pleasurable peaks in familiar music and prime itself with an early dopamine rush". When music reaches our ears it causes sound waves to be converted to vibrations. These vibrations vibrate our inner ear depending on how loud the music is. These vibrations are then converted to electrical signals that are sent to cranial nerves located in the brain. It is then transferred to the thalamus, a part of the brain found in the dorsal (frontal) part of the brain. It sits on the top of the brain stem. The thalamus functions like a mailman. The thalamus receives information, processes it, then sends it to the correct connection. It also effects our consciousness and sensatory interpretation. After this, signals are released to the auditory cortex in the temporal lobes. These are located on both sides of the brain. The temporal lobes function as a second "ear" in a way. This is the part of the brain that hears and processes important sounds or words and is where the term "selective hearing" comes from. If the temporal lobes do not find something important it often just forgets the information and carries on memorizing other things. The temporal lobes also regulate beats and pitches. If damaged, it could cause a person to have a hard time singing to a song, keeping a beat, or playing an instrument. Though there are many studies about music in the brain, not many experiments have been conducted to observe the brain's functions with music. Scientists have created the EEG (electroencephalogram) that records activity of neurons which help researchers to see a portion of the brains reaction. A doctor from Johns Hopkins Hospital says, "During the procedure, electrodes consisting of small metal discs with thin wires are pasted onto your scalp. The electrodes detect tiny electrical charges that result from the activity of your brain cells". The EEG detects abnormal brain waves and scratches them out on paper. Brain waves come in many sizes that are observed to identify them. Beta waves are measured 14-30 Hertz. Beta waves are small wavelengths that are often seen while the subject is awake. Alpha waves are measured 8-13 Hertz. They are a little bigger than Alpha and are seen while the subject is resting (still awake). Theta is significantly different than Alpha and Beta. Theta is more spread out and bigger than the other two; it is measured between 4 and 7 Hertz. Theta is seen while the subject is asleep. Finally, Delta is the largest wave. It is measured in 3.5 Hertz. These are seen when the subject is in deep sleep. The EEG scratches these brainwaves out and are identified and diagnosed by the doctor. When used for music, researchers see wavelength size based on the music pitch and volume. Music is also used as medicine. After being diagnosed by the EEG, doctors may recommend Music Therapy as a method for correcting the mental illness. "Music is used to reduce a patient’s pain, offers them the ability to express themselves without words and facilitates relaxation through singing, playing instruments, writing songs or listening to music. This popular and longstanding psychology practice uses the physical, emotional, mental, aesthetic and spiritual facets of music to help people improve their overall health" (Peterson Family Foundation). Researchers say music helps patients connect to a song and gets them to develop a relationship with it. When episodes occur the song that the patient has connected to can often help console and relax them. Australian Music Therapy Association says that Dr. Michael Daubney, a director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Logan Hospital says, “It can be a vehicle to help build a therapeutic relationship and help the patient express feelings, without words, safely”. This makes the illness ever so slightly bearable.Music can have a huge part in perceptive operations. It can strengthen these abilities and reduce stress over short periods of time. Students no longer have to stress over how much time is spent memorizing study materials when music can help memorization in half the time. Students from Temporal Dynamics Of Learning Center state that "Researchers are finding that music training correlates with cognitive and language improvements." Often pitches and tunes can go together with speech and readings that help the brain connect and remember facts. Although Music has many positive results, music can also be harmful in some cases. Some music promotes unhealthy behavior such as taking nonprescribed drugs, smoking marijuana, or getting drunk. According to ABC News one in three songs written in 2017 reference substance abuse and smoking. Following these lifestyles could develop addictions as well as violent behavior. Rising artists such as Katy Perry, Kanye West, and Rihanna have millions of fans listening to their music, yet they have no idea what the content of their music provokes in their fans. Listening to sad or unpleasant music is also dangerous to a person's mind and body. These types of music can help develop unwanted disorders such as anxiety, depression, and neurosis. When we listen to this music our memories can connect to the artist's, triggering upsetting feelings and harmful actions that often lead to self-harm or fear if the memory is detrimental enough.Music is a wonderful invention that has continued to grow over many centuries twisting and turning into every culture, race, and faith. It has opened doors to research, abilities, and a brighter future. It is a very powerful tool that can lead to a successful future, or an unendurable, less successful one. The choice is completely up to the user. Works Cited Ashford University. 7 June 2017, ashford.edu/online-degrees/student-lifestyle/how-does-music-affect-your-brain.Australian Music Therapy Association. "Teen Spirit." Teen Spirit, pp. 1-2, .au/resources. Accessed 14 Sept. 2017. Baker, Max. How Music Could Help You to Concentrate While Studying. 2 Mar. 2016, independent.co.uk/student/student-life/Studies/how-music-could-help-you-to-concentrate-while-studying-a6907341.html. Accessed 26 Sept. 2017.Johns Hopkins Hospital. "Health Library." Johns Hopkins Medicine, chop.edu/treatments/electroencephalogram-eeg-testing. Accessed 5 Oct. 2017. Peterson family foundation. news/what-is-music-therapy-for-kids/. Temporal Dynamics of Learning Center. tdlc.ucsd.edu/research/highlights/rh-music-and-brain-2011.html. ................
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