Everyone loves music, that's a fair enough statement to make. Whether it's the Top 40 or your best band's Greatest Hits from an album, synchronized sounds on repeat is the rhythm we love, and that's scientifically proven!
In fact, though I am by no means a a numbers-and-neuroscience type of guy, there appears to be a direct correlation between mental states and music. More specifically, music impacts emotions, memory, and how singing along(no matter how bad) can be a cerebral asset!
The first one is more than a little obvious, if you ask me. Think back to watching a high-adrenaline action movie or horror film right before bed. What makes the thrillers so thrilling, or the horrors so horrific?
The visuals, yes, what we see plays a large role in that, but also what we hear. Accelerated music that builds steadily to a loud and vivacious climax allows for the audience to follow along internally.
Next time note how your heartbeat will pick up and how the music coordinates exactly where the scenes will go, providing a near-perfect telegrapher of events.
Sad scenes will have slower, somber tones that linger and fade in and out, and some cinematics even play those "sad songs" you might catch in the radio just to hammer their point home
! Or, here in reality, how we listen to said "sad songs" when we're feeling blue, or pulse-pounding beats whenever we're feeling particularly impassioned. I personally have these songs cued up on my MP3 when hitting the gym.
Secondly, consider how often you need to recall facts you learned in eight-grade social studies? Might be a tad difficult. Yet, ask someone the lyrics to one of their favorite songs, and they may immediately remember the words and rhymes on command.
Improving our memory is another skill music does, as it enhances our attention spans in the moment.
In fact, this can even cross over into being a great memory trick for things that happen while a song is playing: you may remember events that happened during the sixty thousandth time you've heard a Bruno Mars song playing because you like the song, that memory is fresh, and what occurs during that time frame sticks with you as well. Guess next test I need, I'll go jamming in my car.
Yes, those singing in the shower are really helping themselves!
It's been proven that singing decreases depression, stress, and anxiety. Not only that, but singing along to your favorite tunes can be a relaxing practice, and can help release dopamine, the "happy" natural chemical, in the brain. With all this in mind, go out, enjoy your music, and don't be afraid to sing as loud as you can; it's healthy, after all!
