Decoding Headaches

1/7/2021

The flood of emotions that accompanies hearing a beloved song is difficult to describe. Your mind is filled with memories, and feelings rush back like it was yesterday. Though the power of music and its connection to your brain are not yet fully understood, research shows that songs and musical training can have an effect on memory.

It’s called the Mozart effect after a 1993 study published in Nature in which participants who listened to Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K.448 had improved spatial reasoning. The study was later replicated in mice, and they also performed better on tests.

Today, music is used to help patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and many have seen surprising results. Some temporarily regain the ability to speak after listening to songs from their past, possibly due to triggering portions of the brain that are unaffected by the disease.

How can you harness the power of music to improve brain function?

Musical training has been shown to improve recall times. If music lessons aren’t for you, consider listening to music while you learn, which may improve your ability to remember.

Setting facts to music makes them easier to remember. Next time something important comes up, try repeating it to yourself in a song. You’ll be more likely to remember it when you need to.

This wellness information is provided by your friends at Northwest Health – Starke.

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