Music is so woven into our daily lives that we do not realise the impact a simple tune could have on our brain or our body. It has many virtues and can change a person’s behaviour, activities and emotions. Research in psychology and neuroscience has established the effects of music on certain brain functions (motor skills, attention, language, learning, memory).
Yet many people see it as nothing more than entertainment, or even a consumer product. But beyond these few sceptics, human beings have always understood that sounds hold a real power. Plato himself acknowledged this, as this extract from the 3rd book of The Republic attests: “Music is a more powerful means than any other because rhythm and harmony have their seat in the soul. It enriches the soul, confers grace upon it and illuminates it.”
Read also: Yasmine Azaiez, Between the Love of Music and the Passion for Excellence
Musical Styles and Their Effects
Sacred
Whether Eastern or Western, traditional or modern, all sacred music has the particular quality of relaxing time and space. It settles the brain into alpha-wave frequencies. This is why such music lends itself very well to relaxation, to the reduction of pain, or even to spiritual awakening.
Gregorian Chant
Gregorian chant is a liturgical music of the Catholic Church. It is based on the rhythms of breathing. Its choral chants convey a feeling of great open spaces. It is perfectly suited to meditating, working well and concentrating, and it eases stress.
Baroque Music
The slow movements of Handel or Bach give an impression of balance, stability, order and security. They are very well suited to intellectual work.
Classical Music
The fluidity, transparency and clarity of the music of Mozart or Haydn help to improve memory and concentration. This music also sharpens spatial perception.
Romantic Music
It covers the whole range of feelings, from the deepest sadness to the greatest exaltation. Made famous by the genius of composers such as Wagner, Chopin or Liszt, it is an emotionally charged music.
Jazz, Blues
In their classic forms, jazz and blues evoke, like Romantic music, the whole array of human emotions, though with a more invigorating impact on the body.
Rock
While some pieces of so-called classic rock release inner tensions, others, on the contrary, stir the passions. The effects of this music vary from one person to another.
Heavy Metal, Punk, Grunge…
This music is most often listened to very loud. As a result, it directly affects the nervous system by overstimulating the eardrums and the auditory nerves. Listening to it triggers direct physiological reactions (a rise in blood pressure, breathing and heart rate, etc.).
Techno
With its pulsations, this music evokes the beating of the heart. In a techno environment, the body adapts to the frequencies of the rhythmic bass, thereby altering those of the brain. Over time, this state induces a kind of trance.
Music Therapy
Since the 1950s, a discipline has used music for therapeutic purposes. Unsurprisingly, it is known as music therapy, though some prefer the term “the art of therapeutic music.”
Which Musical Style for Which Effect? The Summary Table
| Musical style | Main effect |
|---|---|
| Sacred | Relaxation, alpha frequencies, pain reduction, spiritual awakening |
| Gregorian chant | Meditation, concentration, easing of stress |
| Baroque | Balance, stability, security; conducive to intellectual work |
| Classical | Memory, concentration, spatial perception |
| Romantic | The whole range of emotions, from sadness to exaltation |
| Jazz, blues | The array of human emotions, invigorating impact |
| Rock | Release of tensions or stirring of passions, depending on the person |
| Heavy metal, punk, grunge… | Direct physiological reactions (blood pressure, breathing, heart rate) |
| Techno | The body adapts to the bass frequencies, a state of trance |
