Tag: neuromusic

The neuroscience of music.

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Neuromusic: 3 captivating fields harmoniously combined into one.

Neuromusic is the combination of music, psychology, and neuroscience.
Neuromusic: 3 captivating fields harmoniously combined into one. 2

What is Neuromusic?

Neuromusic is a multidisciplinary field. It studies the intersection between music, the mind (psychology), and the brain (neuroscience).

Who’s Who in Neuromusic

McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind

There are a number of labs worldwide currently studying Neuromusic. Among the most famous are the MIMM (McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind) (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada). The MIMM is a neurosciences and music laboratory. They define their work as:

The McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind (MIMM) is an interdisciplinary group of researchers, including psychologists, neuroscientists, music theorists, musicians, dancers, media artists, mathematicians, kinesiologists, health scientists and engineers. Together, they study questions about the physical structure, evolution, neural processing, performance and perception of music, dance and media arts.

https://livelab.mcmaster.ca/mimm-livelab-faq/

Daniel Levitin

Dr. Levitin, Professor Emeritus at McGill University (Montreal, Québec, Canada) is one of the most well-known investigators in the field. Levitin, the author of “This is Your Brain on Music,” is not only a pioneer in Neuromusic but also a talented writer. He can explain this complex science in a way that everyone can understand. I highly recommend this book!

“Musical activity involves nearly every region of the brain that we know about, and nearly every neural subsystem.”

This is Your Brain on Music – Understanding a Human Obsession, pp85-86.

Larry S. Sherman

Larry S. Sherman, a well-known neuroscientist and musician, collaborated with Dennis Plies to produce a captivating book called “Every Brain Needs Music – The Neuroscience of Making and Listening to Music.” This very readable book, released in the Spring of 2023, is set to captivate readers with its profound exploration of the intricate relationship between our brains and the enchanting world of music.

Jordi A. Jauset

Jordi A. Jauset is a Catalan (Spain) investigator of Neuromusic. He is also my tutor. His book, “Música y Neurociencia” is pioneering in the Spanish-speaking world. Spain and Latin American countries have a rich musical heritage. Flamenco music, traditionally from Andalusia and Catalunya, gives the Spanish ear a different tuning and rhythm. He has designed, and teaches neuromusic module online. (see below)

Me!

Well, I am no one, yet. But I am studying Neuromúsica with Jordi Jauset and hope to make my mark someday! I am currently writing a thesis about Heart Rate Variability and Binaural Beats (BB). I will publish it once it is finished. For now, please bookmark my blog. You may want to read one of my earlier posts, “Music affects the brain in three fascinating ways“.

The Breathing Brain – Binaural Beats and Heart Rate Variability

Specific Aim

This study aims to find out which technique, either BB alone, Patterned Breathing alone, or BB+PB together, has the greatest impact on HRV.

Context Analysis

Breathing techniques can positively affect Heart Rate Variability.   BB are believed to increase focus and concentration.  If we combine BB with breathing techniques, is there a greater effect on Heart Rate Variability?

Binaural Beats

BB are a phantom tones that are produced in the human brain when we listen to slightly different tones in each ear. There is debate about how and how often binaural beats are produced in different individuals. However, my starting point for this thesis is that yes, BB are real.

Dr. Andrew Huberman published a podcast about 40-Hz BB back in May. I previously used lower frequency BB’s, usually in the Theta-wave range (4-8 Hz). However, for my study, I relied on his work and used 40-Hz BB’s.

Rhythmic Breathing

The breath is the bridge between the mind and the body. I wrote a blog post on Rose Tint Your Life, my professional page, about Rhythmic Breathing, lymphatic drainage, and cerebrospinal fluid.

Summing up

Music is hard to define, but it has the power to profoundly and instantly change our mood. I have been a therapist for many years. I want to understand the power of music to create focus-enhancing meditation tools that enhance motivation. Watch this space, and thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share using the buttons below.

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Music affects the brain in these 3 fascinating ways.

How does music affect the brain?

We know that listening to our favourite (or least favorite!) music affects the brain. But, have you ever wondered how music affects the brain? It certainly has the power to evoke a wide range of emotions and can have a profound impact on our mood and well-being.

 It has been found that music activates more parts of the brain than any other known stimulus.

http://chordsforacause.org/410-2/

The relationship between music and the human brain is under intense scrutiny and is subject to many ongoing studies. Although there is still much to learn, so far we know that:

  • Stimulates several areas of the brain.
  • Activates the brain’s “reward centers”, including dopamine pathways.
  • Improves cognitive function and may help patients with diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and depression.
how music affects the brain
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Music affects the brain by…

Stimulating several areas.

Studies have shown that listening to music can stimulate several brain areas, including those responsible for processing emotions, memory, and movement.

When we listen to music, our brains come alive with activity. Numerous studies have shown that listening to music stimulates various regions of the brain. One such region is the auditory cortex, which processes and interprets sound. This area of the brain is responsible for recognizing different musical elements such as pitch, rhythm, and melody.

Furthermore, listening to music activates the limbic system, which is associated with emotions and memory. This can explain why certain songs can evoke strong emotional responses or trigger memories from the past. The limbic system comprises the amygdala, the thalamus, the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, the basal ganglia, and the cingulate gyrus.

Enhancing the release of dopamine.

Some music can activate the reward centers in the brain, leading to feelings of pleasure and releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.

The nucleus accumbens is responsible for releasing dopamine. This neurotransmitter is associated with pleasure and is released when we experience something enjoyable, such as listening to our favorite song.

Helping with learning and thinking

Another area that is stimulated by music is the prefrontal cortex. This region is involved in higher cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and problem-solving. Music has been shown to improve focus and concentration, which may be attributed to the activation of the prefrontal cortex.

One 1991 study suggested that listening to classical music while studying or performing mental tasks can improve spatial task performance. However, despite causing a big splash, and coining the term “The Mozart Effect”, the results were not as reliable as they seemed at first.

Neuromusic

How music affects the brain 2

I am studying for a Master’s in Neuromusic. Neuromusic is the intersectional study of neuroscience, psychology and music. I am currently focused on my thesis, whose working title is “Binaural Beats and the Breathing Brain”. This series of posts will serve to align my thoughts and support my studies. Eventually, these posts will form part of my written thesis.

I am a primarily self-taught songwriter, producer, and DJ. The formal study of how music affects the brain represents a very important step in my personal and professional evolution. So, if you are interested in learning alongside me, and maybe encouraging me, please bookmark this page and check in regularly.

Tune in and feel the flow

Overall, listening to music engages multiple areas of the brain, including the auditory cortex, prefrontal cortex, limbic system, and the reward system. Music has a significant effect on our brains, showing that it is a powerful tool for our emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being.

So next time you’re feeling down or in need of a mental boost, consider turning on some music and let your brain reap the benefits.

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Music Medicine: An exciting modality 4 modern times!

RR Music medicine Lee Bartel 1
Music Medicine

Music Medicine

More and more investigation is underway to determine just how important a role sound and music may play in future models of health care and disease management. It’s a very exciting time for this branch of holistic therapeutics! This is why I have decided to study Neuromusic. I started my Master’s on Friday!

The expanding scope of music in healthcare was the topic of a recent issue of MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute journal “Healthcare”. The Special Edition Editor was Dr. Lee Bartel, a professor at the University of Toronto. After reading two articles, I found the TED talk that appears above.

Music medicine vs. Music therapy

Music medicine and music therapy are not the same things, but they are closely related. Music medicine can use sound vibrations that are not necessarily musical. Music therapy can also use toning and vibration, but it’s certainly more about musicality and the psychological attachments that a patient may have toward certain styles or pieces of music.-

Healing yourself with sound certainly appeals. Sound is all around us, all the time. Those who live or work in cities may be bombarded by noise, often to their detriment. Traffic noise slows children’s memory development, a 2022 study found.

Neuromusic

Neuromusic is about sound and music as healing modalities. I have only just started my studies, but already I can tell that my long years of self-directed study will pay off. The first module talks about frequencies and harmonics, signals, and all those good things that music producers love to delve into.

My hopes for the course

I hope to use the course to finish and commercialize the project I have been working on for the past year. I earn my living as a Yoga teacher, bodyworker, and MindSet coach. I am currently working very hard on some special guided meditations that are based on cutting-edge knowledge about how different frequencies affect the mind and body. I am particularly interested in the use of music medicine and psychedelics. So, let’s see how that all goes. Exciting times!