(24-02-11) Music heals

by Amy Chaves

(NaturalNews) Studies in music indicate that it is a natural healer. Proven to
release dopamine responsible for pleasure, music shows promise in the treatment
of mental and somatic illnesses. Similar research also suggest that it may be
useful for patients with traumatic brain injury and as therapeutic intervention
for problems associated with aging.

Pleasure booster. A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience (2011)
indicates that listening to one`s favorite music leads to the release of
dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with the pleasure system of the brain.
Even just anticipating the sounds of music one likes will trigger the release
of dopamine. This study was the first to link dopamine and musical pleasure and
how the human pleasure system works.

Dopamine, which is also responsible for both motivation and addiction, is a
feel-good chemical. It can affect how you feel and think, and has been
attributed to feelings of happiness. Too little of it may cause irrational
thinking, memory loss, and schizophrenia.

Depression lifter. A review of five randomized studies was conducted by
Maratus, et al. (2008) to determine if music is effective in reducing the
symptoms of depression.

Results showed that four of the five studies reported significant reduction in
depression among participants who were selected at random to music therapy
compared to those receiving standard care conditions. Participants in the music
therapy reported improvement in their moods and mental state.

In a similar study conducted by Myskja and Nord (2008), music therapy also
resulted in a significant reduction in the depression level of nursing home
residents in Oslo, Norway. The institution was without music for 4 months,
after which music therapy was resumed for 2 months, twice a week, with 72
residents participating in two groups -- those with music and those without
music.

Results revealed that residents who participated in music therapy had a
significant reduction of depression rating compared to those without music
therapy.

Brain healer. Music can also address the needs of patients with traumatic
brain injuries. In a book by Gilbertson and Aldrige and reviewed by Wright
(2008), music therapy was found to be effective as a rehabilitative therapy for
patients who were initially considered unreachable or non-responsive. This is
proven in the comprehensive literature presented in their book, which includes
moving stories of clients who were thought to be in a vegetative state but were
able to react to music and subsequently indicated the ability to communicate.

Other benefits. An extensive review of literature on music therapy by Koelsch
(2009) also revealed additional benefits of music as follows: Music can
automatically capture attention and may distract attention from negative
experiences such as pain, anxiety, worry and sadness. Similarly, it is
effective in the treatment of affective disorders such as depression,
pathologic anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is beneficial in the
treatment of tinnitus and in facilitating Alzheimer`s patients` adaptation in
long-term care facilities, and it has also been shown to improve executive
function in the elderly, including those who suffered stroke and Parkinson`s
disease.

Hence, music as a natural healer is credited to induce pleasurable feelings
and is considered a promising treatment for mental and somatic illnesses; it
can enhance the emotional and psycho-social wellness of brain-injured patients
and could offer therapeutic benefits in the elderly by improving cognitive,
physical, and emotional health.

Sources:

Gilbertson, S., & Aldridge, D. (2008). Music therapy and traumatic brain
injury: A light on a dark night. Reviewed by Wright, K. Canadian Journal of
Music Therapy, 15(1), 95-100.

Koelsh, S. (2009). A neuroscientific perspective on music therapy. The
Neurosciences and Music III-Disorders and Plasticity. Annual Review of New York
Academy of Science, 1169, 347-384.

Maratus, A., Gold, C., Wang, X., & Crawford, M. (2008). Music therapy for
depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1. Art. No.:
CD004517. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004517.pub2.

Myskja, A., & Nord, P. G. (2008). "The Day the Music Died" - A pilot study of
music and depression. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 17(1), 30-40.

Salimpoor, V. N., Benovoy, M., Larcher K., Dagher A., & Zatorre, R. J. (2011).
Nature Neuroscience. doi: 10.1038/nn.2726.

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