Music's Effect on Neuroplasticity, Cognition, Motivation + More

This week we've distilled Huberman's episode on Music & The Brain.

He discusses its role in the brain, benefits on HRV, neuroplasticity, cognition, learning, exercise, and mental health.

All takeaways and protocols are databased & searchable on Human3 Wiki.

Music as a Neurological Phenomenon

Music is a neurological phenomenon

• Activates nearly every piece of our brain

• The brain contains vast amounts of real estate dedicated to listening to music

• Our brain and body become part of the instrument that contributes to our perception of musicProtocol #1: Do Challenging Things & Be Mindful of Dopamine Peaking Activities

Music, believe it or not, likely evolved prior to spoken language

• Singing and dance also likely evolved prior to language

• Makes music a fundamental form of human communication

Music activates neurons in the brain and body, matching the frequency of the sounds heard

• This activation makes the body feel as if it’s an instrument playing the music

Biological Benefits of Music

Studies have shown that listening to favorite music for 10-30 minutes a day increases heart rate variability not just during the listening period, but also around the clock, even during sleep

• This increase in heart rate variability is beneficial for mental and physical health

• Listening to music subconsciously changes our patterns of breathing, which in turn changes our heart rate and increases heart rate variability

Listening to music for ten to 15 minutes prior to doing cognitive work can be one of the best ways to get motivated to engage in that work

Binaural beats: different frequencies of beats presented to one or the other ear

• Some studies show that listening to 40 Hz binaural beats can enhance concentration and focus

• Other studies show that other frequencies of binaural beats might be detrimental to concentration and cognitive performance 

Effect of Music on Cognitive Tasks

• Controlled studies show that people perform best on cognitive tasks in complete silence

• Second best condition is instrumental music in the background

• Performance decreases when listening to music with lyrics

• Performance is worst when listening to favorite music while doing cognitive work

• Listening to music with lyrics competes with the comprehension of the narrative, impeding learning

• Listening to music in breaks between learning can heighten cognition, focus, and ability to learn

Listening to music in between bouts of exertion can enhance performance

• Particularly with familiar, motivational music

The Brain's Response to Music

Neuroscience, neuroimaging, and neural recordings are teaching us how the brain responds to music

• This information can be used by humans and computers to generate music that can shift our brain into more positive states

Listening to sad music for 13 minutes or more can help process and move past feelings of sadness

• This is a form of catharsis, amplifying emotional expression to move past it

• This method can be used to help manage feelings of loss or grief

Specific musical stimuli can significantly reduce anxiety

• A study from the University of Pennsylvania showed a 65% reduction in anxiety after listening to the song “Weightless” by Marconi Union for three minutes

• This song was as effective in reducing anxiety as commonly prescribed benzodiazepines

Music, Children, and Brain Connectivity

• Learning to play an instrument, especially before the age of eight, enhances brain connectivity

• This enhanced connectivity persists into adulthood and facilitates other forms of neuroplasticity and learning

• Listening to novel forms of music for 30 to 60 minutes per day, three days a week, can also expand brain connectivity

Learning to play a musical instrument or singing, especially in a group, enhances learning and acquisition of new skills

• Neuroimaging data shows up to 30% greater connectivity within a brain network that links the two hemispheres in children who learned to play 1-3 instruments or sang in a choir or group

Learning an instrument or singing increases connectivity between the two sides of the brain, enhancing the capacity of all brain circuits connected with the corpus callosum

• This includes circuits for cognition, language learning, speech, and mathematics

• Many musicians are adept at mathematics due to the theoretical basis of music in math and physics

Listening to novel forms of music, especially with active attention, expands the brain’s capacity for neuroplasticity

• This enhances the brain’s ability to modify itself and improve learning of other cognitive and physical skills