Effects of Music

As someone who at one point was set on going into music therapy as a career I have studied the effects of music a lot. I think its pretty common knowledge that music can significantly effect us mentally, emotionally and spiritually, but a lot of people don't realize just how much music can effect us physically as well.

Basically our bodies naturally want to be neutral. Our bodies do not like being pulled to one extreme or the other (physical extremes cause sickness, mental and emotional extremes cause stress and depression). Whats weird is that, even though our bodies want to be neutral, they tend to pull to one extreme or the other.

Music is very effective at counteracting that pull and brining us closer to neutral so our bodies naturally gravitate to it (thats why almost everyone enjoys music in one form or another). If we have a tendency to drift lower than neutral emotionally (toward depression) we naturally are drawn to exhilarating, exciting music such as metal and rock. If we naturally move higher than neutral (toward stress) we are drawn to calmer, soothing, relaxing music like acoustic, chill and alternative. Often times those of us who enjoy relaxing music find hard music to be almost painful and visa verse. This is because the music will pull us further away from neutral and our bodies fight to prevent that.

The principles mentioned above for the mental and emotional effects of music apply to physical effects as well. Certain illnesses are caused by or cause a slowing of our body's physical state. Others are associated with an increase in bodily activity. Music of the opposite nature can help counter act these negative effects and drastically increase the healing process.

These effects go far beyond "bringing balance" and can even effect certain emotional, spiritual, mental and physical aspects. I think that knowing specifically what certain types or aspects of music can do can actually help in composition. What are your thoughts and opinions? What exactly do you think music can do?

I am actually working on a book on this subject so I'm doing a lot of research and developing my own ideas. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Wait isn't eustress a good thing?

This sounds like metaphysical nonsense; what does it mean medically that the body wants to be "neutral?" What the hell are you talking about? The only way you'll get anywhere with research like this is to look closely at cognitive psychology and science, since music deals directly with many mechanisms which affect us anemically and neurally.

Good place to start is looking at the research Oliver Sacks has done with music's uses in medicine, as well as following up the work of Steven Pinker and so on.

Furthermore, go talk to actual doctors and study your medicine properly, otherwise it'll just be another Mozart-effect like bullshit and nobody wants that.

I disagree with the person above me...

Why do you think peaceful music is used in massage or even sillier, when you're put on hold with a bill collector or company.

Music soothes the soul and brings us back to neutrality.

I disagree with the person above me.

Sure, music tells a story. Calm, soothing music tells a relaxing, serene story. Forceful, tense music tells a darker, more macabre story. Kinda like a book, in fact. A happy serene song would be like a romantic book about the beach. A sadder song would be like A Tale of Two Cities. These certainly do make us happy or sad, but to claim that they bring us back to "neutrality" is a bunch of arbitrary hodge-podge.

Sometimes when I am sad, I like to listen to grunge metal. Sometimes I like to listen to Percy Grainger. Sometimes when I am happy, I listen to screamo, sometimes acoustic music. To claim that our body is drawn to neutrality would make sense if we were talking about my insulin level, or the acid content of my body. However, once we go into the metaphysical world of "how does that make you feel," everything becomes arbitrary. Frankly, music has little more effect than reading a book, and in my mind, thinking otherwise is folly.

I disagree with the person above me...

Why do you think peaceful music is used in massage or even sillier, when you're put on hold with a bill collector or company.

Music soothes the soul and brings us back to neutrality.

If you can define what "neutrality" is medically, that'd be great. Also of course there are plenty of reasons why music may be used in different ways, and a lot of it has to do with conditioning. There are people who find the sound of waves or the ocean relaxing, yet it's a cacophony of sounds compared to "peaceful music" you hear in massages. I mean there's people who fall asleep listening to Rammstein and find it relaxing.

Also when you're put on hold I've heard all sorts of music, from Black Sabbath to Mozart, so I guess it depends on who you ask what's the purpose of playing "on hold" music anyway. Hell here in Germany some services don't even have that and they just put on a drone woman saying "Please wait."

Sure, music tells a story. Calm, soothing music tells a relaxing, serene story. Forceful, tense music tells a darker, more macabre story. Kinda like a book, in fact. A happy serene song would be like a romantic book about the beach. A sadder song would be like A Tale of Two Cities. These certainly do make us happy or sad, but to claim that they bring us back to "neutrality" is a bunch of arbitrary hodge-podge.

Subjective hodge-podge, like your assertion that music tells a "story," eh?

Wait isn't eustress a good thing?

Yes.

This sounds like metaphysical nonsense; what does it mean medically that the body wants to be "neutral?" What the hell are you talking about? The only way you'll get anywhere with research like this is to look closely at cognitive psychology and science, since music deals directly with many mechanisms which affect us anemically and neurally.

Good place to start is looking at the research Oliver Sacks has done with music's uses in medicine, as well as following up the work of Steven Pinker and so on.

Furthermore, go talk to actual doctors and study your medicine properly, otherwise it'll just be another Mozart-effect like bullshit and nobody wants that.

I definitely don't believe in any sort of holistic approach to medicine. I don't think the ideas I presented should replace medical practices as a form of healing. However, certain types of music can be relaxing or stimulating. All I'm suggesting is that this relaxation/stimulation can help with the healing process. For example, autism is one of the most common cases in which music therapy is used and though not curable, calming, peaceful, relaxing music is proven to have VERY positive effects on the autistic individual (as they are naturally extremely overly stimulated). Likewise, exhilarating music (especially piano) can be mentally and emotionally stimulating to a physical therapy patient (as they, or a part of their body, is under stimulated and therefore not functioning properly) to increase results of the therapy. I don't look at any of this as actually medical, but more therapeutic, sort of like JmAY said.

Sometimes when I am sad' date=' I like to listen to grunge metal. Sometimes I like to listen to Percy Grainger. Sometimes when I am happy, I listen to screamo, sometimes acoustic music. To claim that our body is drawn to neutrality would make sense if we were talking about my insulin level, or the acid content of my body. However, once we go into the metaphysical world of "how does that make you feel," everything becomes arbitrary. Frankly, music has little more effect than reading a book, and in my mind, thinking otherwise is folly.[/quote']

The point is exactly that you listen to certain types of music when you feel certain ways, just like you said. When your sad you need emotional stimulation so you listen to music that will provide that. This same is true when your stressed.

If you can define what "neutrality" is medically' date=' that'd be great. Also of course there are plenty of reasons why music may be used in different ways, and a lot of it has to do with conditioning. There are people who find the sound of waves or the ocean relaxing, yet it's a cacophony of sounds compared to "peaceful music" you hear in massages. I mean there's people who fall asleep listening to Rammstein and find it relaxing.

[/quote']

"neutrality" is the ideal. In one direction you have stress and anxiety in the other you have depression. They're polar opposites, and right in between them you find neutrality. Music therapy is also called sound therapy because more than common western music can be (and is) used regularly for the reasons you mentioned. (In my opinion "sound" and "music" are completely synonymous, definition is merely interpretation.)

Music? What can it do? It's endless: It can make you sad, happy, fearful, exited, nervous, ext. Music has the power to overtake our emotions...

I disagree with almost everything you assume as a premise. Please offer some proof that the body desires what you term neutrality, which I assume you take to mean a kind of middle ground of physical and mental satisfaction. I'm afraid it sounds suspiciously like some kind of pseudo-science, like the ancient idea of the four humors needing to be in balance. The body does not desire neutrality and satisfaction - it is blindly governed by the survival instinct. This is why we have the instinct to eat as much as we can, because we don't know where the next lot of food is coming from. We would stuff ourselves full of food far beyond the 'neutral' point of good sustenance because our instinct dictates it's the best thing to do. I can't agree with your simplistic categorisation of music into that which either acts as an stimulant or a depressant (like physical drugs do). It does not exist simply to calm you down or make you lively depending on how far the mind has strayed from this 'neutrality'. Why then would people seek out music that was sad, depressing, uncomfortable or horrific? I saw The Turn of the Screw last night and believe me, it wasn't the composer's intention for me to feel relaxed most of the time - in fact, it's bloody scary in parts. And I didn't go to it because my mind had strayed from some happy medium and needed a dose of Britten and a Henry James ghost story to return to 'neutrality'; I went because it looked interesting. In an case, I'd never heard this music before - how would I know what effect it would have on me?

As for 'knowing specifically what certain types of aspects of music can do can actually help in composition', well, possibly, but nobody to my knowledge composes using a formula of different music gestures which correspond to emotional effects. Good composition has a positive effect on the emotions, but only because the listener is stimulated by the process of combining sounds into a coherent whole. In any case, the emotional effect of a particular musical gesture is arbitrary and often culture-specific - who says that minor chord = sad? In many cultures, traditionally, it doesn't.

I don't look at any of this as actually medical, but more therapeutic, sort of like JmAY said.

Therapy is a part of medical science. It goes hand in hand with it and if you're doing something like this you MUST know your medicine. Trust me on this.

"neutrality" is the ideal. In one direction you have stress and anxiety in the other you have depression. They're polar opposites, and right in between them you find neutrality. Music therapy is also called sound therapy because more than common western music can be (and is) used regularly for the reasons you mentioned. (In my opinion "sound" and "music" are completely synonymous, definition is merely interpretation.)

Well depends what model we're using. Read this:

NIMH · Bipolar Disorder

You need to base whatever psychological/physiological model on empirical evidence and research. What you're talking about "neutral" isn't as far as I know a proper medical term, but there are different models depending on the pathology and symptoms. You obviously also need a copy of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM,) which is essential for whatever research you're doing.

Again, consult doctors if possible and check your information and hypothesis with them before you write a single word.

I disagree with almost everything you assume as a premise. Please offer some proof that the body desires what you term neutrality, which I assume you take to mean a kind of middle ground of physical and mental satisfaction. I'm afraid it sounds suspiciously like some kind of pseudo-science, like the ancient idea of the four humors needing to be in balance. The body does not desire neutrality and satisfaction - it is blindly governed by the survival instinct. This is why we have the instinct to eat as much as we can, because we don't know where the next lot of food is coming from. We would stuff ourselves full of food far beyond the 'neutral' point of good sustenance because our instinct dictates it's the best thing to do. I can't agree with your simplistic categorisation of music into that which either acts as an stimulant or a depressant (like physical drugs do). It does not exist simply to calm you down or make you lively depending on how far the mind has strayed from this 'neutrality'. Why then would people seek out music that was sad, depressing, uncomfortable or horrific? I saw The Turn of the Screw last night and believe me, it wasn't the composer's intention for me to feel relaxed most of the time - in fact, it's bloody scary in parts. And I didn't go to it because my mind had strayed from some happy medium and needed a dose of Britten and a Henry James ghost story to return to 'neutrality'; I went because it looked interesting. In an case, I'd never heard this music before - how would I know what effect it would have on me?

As for 'knowing specifically what certain types of aspects of music can do can actually help in composition', well, possibly, but nobody to my knowledge composes using a formula of different music gestures which correspond to emotional effects. Good composition has a positive effect on the emotions, but only because the listener is stimulated by the process of combining sounds into a coherent whole. In any case, the emotional effect of a particular musical gesture is arbitrary and often culture-specific - who says that minor chord = sad? In many cultures, traditionally, it doesn't.

It sounds like your suggesting that this is all some sort of astrological theory. I'm not at all suggesting that if you are emotionally off the universe aligns and forces you to go somewhere and listen to something that will correct the problem. What I'm saying is that music that excites someone who is already over stimulated wont sound very good to them. Music that calms them down will be more appealing and therefore they will want to listen to it more.

Music in a scary movie is specifically written to be tense and creepy. It effects you emotionally and makes you more anxious as you watch the movie.

If you can define what "neutrality" is medically, that'd be great.

I think he might vaguely be referring to homeostasis...

What I'm saying is that music that excites someone who is already over stimulated wont sound very good to them. Music that calms them down will be more appealing and therefore they will want to listen to it more.

Music in a scary movie is specifically written to be tense and creepy. It effects you emotionally and makes you more anxious as you watch the movie.

Music in a scary movie is specifically written to a appeal to a demographic, what is written is established by cultural norms and cliches that have a high chance of giving people a certain message. This is exactly like the baroque affects and exactly like those, the meaning of what the music is "supposed to mean" can be lost if those meanings are not kept and taught.

Likewise, what's "over stimulated?" And how can you assert that music that stimulated them won't sound "good" to them in that state (whatever that is?)

Therapy is a part of medical science. It goes hand in hand with it and if you're doing something like this you MUST know your medicine. Trust me on this.

Well depends what model we're using. Read this:

NIMH

Music in a scary movie is specifically written to a appeal to a demographic, what is written is established by cultural norms and cliches that have a high chance of giving people a certain message. This is exactly like the baroque affects and exactly like those, the meaning of what the music is "supposed to mean" can be lost if those meanings are not kept and taught.

Likewise, what's "over stimulated?" And how can you assert that music that stimulated them won't sound "good" to them in that state (whatever that is?)

Because if it sounded good to them they are in a differant state.....of course :)

I have to agree here that your theory of "neutrality gradient force" (if I can call it that) as a/the factor that determines people's music preference is simply too equivocal. I think you are moving closer to a meaningful (though no better proven) theory when you mention relaxation and stimulation as the opposite poles on your scale, however you undermine that progress and harm your credibility when you say that stress/anxiety and depression are polar opposites; they're not, in fact they are positively correlated. Nevertheless, your position does seem, to a degree, to parallel recent research into people's preferences for different types of music.

For example Study on Personality and Music preferences

You will need access to a database of peer-reviewed journals to access this article but here's the abstract:

Personality, self-estimated intelligence, and uses of music: A Spanish replication and extension using structural equation modeling.

This study replicates and extends a recent study on personality, intelligence and uses of music [Chamorro-Premuzic, T., & Furnham, A. (2007). Personality and music: Can traits explain how people use music in everyday life? British Journal of Psychology, 98, 175

I have to agree here that your theory of "neutrality gradient force" (if I can call it that) as a/the factor that determines people's music preference is simply too equivocal. I think you are moving closer to a meaningful (though no better proven) theory when you mention relaxation and stimulation as the opposite poles on your scale, however you undermine that progress and harm your credibility when you say that stress/anxiety and depression are polar opposites; they're not, in fact they are positively correlated. Nevertheless, your position does seem, to a degree, to parallel recent research into people's preferences for different types of music.

For example Study on Personality and Music preferences

You will need access to a database of peer-reviewed journals to access this article but here's the abstract:

As a side note, Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness are all scales of the five-factor model of personality, presently the leading psychological construct theory of personality, which has demonstrated strong utility in describing and classifying personality in individuals. It is assessed by means of a questionnaire and it's scores have been correlated with a wide range of other measurements, across various areas of psychology.

Five-Facor Model

Now, despite the body of research that supports it this gets to be a somewhat tentative link, but there is data that suggests that Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Openness are all linked to various aspects of "stimulation." Specifically (because as we know just saying "stimulation" is equivocal), there is evidence that people who score high on neuroticism, which implies that they have more negative emotions and are more prone to anxiety and depression, "have a more reactive sympathetic nervous system, and are more sensitive to environmental stimulation." "Higher levels of Openness have been linked to activity in the ascending dopaminergic system and the functions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex," and are "related to need for cognition." And extraversion/introversion has been linked to peoples need for external stimulation, the theory being that introverts' brains are more active (a simplified explination) and thus require/seek less external stimulation than those of extroverts.

Ultimately though, this research is in it's infancy and conclusions can only be drawn with a careful review of the literature and with the recognition that our position is based on limited data and should thus be expected to change as our scientific understanding increases.

Wow, thats very enlightening! My conclusions (not to mention my lines of research) just grew a ton! thanks!