DOES MUSIC AFFECT OUR BRAIN?

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HOW DOES MUSIC AFFECT OUR BRAIN?

Turkey Medicals member and JCI hospital head of Neurology department Prof. Doctor said, “The benefits of music to our brain do not end with counting. Listening to music at every opportunity improves our mood, while also improving many of our mental functions such as perception, learning, memory,” she said.

It has also been proven by scientific research that music, which has been a therapeutic tool for centuries, affects many areas of the brain. ‘If you are distracted from your troubles while listening to a music you love and you feel good, this is the clearest example of the direct effect of music on the brain,’ said Neurologist Professor Doctor, she gave the following information about the relationship between music and the brain.

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ACTIVATES THE HORMONES OF HAPPINESS

We are all aware of the amazing effects of music on our mood. Your mood improves much faster when you listen to cheerful and motivating music that raises your mood, you get out of the dark mood faster. Since these effects are known, music is a method that has been tried in the treatment process of many diseases in the past. Because it stimulates the amygdala, which is part of the limbic system in the brain that is closely related to emotions and images. It also has a direct effect on our body; it is processed in the same parts of the brain that control the rhythm, heart rate and blood pressure. That’s why our heart rhythm also accelerates when we listen to moving music. Fun music reduces stress by lowering the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, provide relief by relaxing muscles, relieve pain, enlivens the body that helps the endorphin hormone secretion, serotonin (the happiness hormone) and dopamine (jun hormone) increases.

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IF YOU DON’T USE IT, YOU LOSE

Research has shown that music also activates the most important memory regions of the brain and the neural network system. Of course, music activates the temporal region, the nearby center of memory and hearing, located just behind your ear, but this is only the beginning. The emotion-related parts of the brain are not only activated during emotional music, they also synchronize. Music activates various memory zones. Interestingly, music activates the motor system, and we keep up with the rhythm with our hands and feet. Why is this so important? You’ve probably heard the expression ”if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it”. This has a lot of importance for the brain. Brain pathways-and even entire neural networks- become stronger when they are used and weaker when they are not used. This is due to the brain’s effort to maintain efficiency. Thus, the brain will not bother with keeping the neural networks that have not been used for many years strong, it will use the nerve cells along this path for something else.

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LISTEN TO THE SONG FOR 20 MINUTES IF YOU ARE ANXIOUS OR ANGRY

If your current mood is depressed, neutral, sad, or angry, listen to music for up to 20 minutes depending on the mood you want to feel. At the end of this time, you will notice that your mood has suddenly changed. Music therapists take into account the melody, rhythm, harmony and timbre, but we act according to our feelings. Music changes all your feelings. Even if you like sad music, this will allow you to indulge your melancholic feelings, but your mood will also improve if you force yourself to turn the music into upbeat, positive music. Music is complicated, but the way it works our brains is very simple. The main thing is to be able to find the appropriate music to reflect the desired mood. You have an important meeting and you are worried? There are numerous studies that show that music can help reduce anxiety. All you have to do is find and listen to music that matches how you feel. If you don’t have time, just listen to relaxing music. If you focus all your attention on music, you will notice that you are moving away from anxiety-generating thoughts. For those who have anxiety problems, music will help to express their inner needs. Music is the most extraordinary library of human emotions; it’s an amazing catalog. First find out which music makes you feel good. There are songs that I listen to that make you move, that give peace to your soul. Indulge yourself when you find music that gets you going. The pleasure that music will give you is incredible.

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ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR THERAPIES

Especially in most psychiatric services, music therapy is now used routinely and is a highly effective psychotherapeutic treatment. Music therapy in combination with pain medications to ensure comfortable falling asleep in patients, relax the body, reduce anxiety and fear, and anesthetize or relieve pain is very popular today. Music therapists design customized music sessions based on positive emotionality, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities and cognitive skills, and evaluate a person’s reactions to different types of music. Then they try to improve the brain and mood through activities such as improvisation through music, lyrical discussions, songwriting, music and image analysis.

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INTRODUCE YOUR CHILDREN TO CLASSICAL MUSIC AT AN EARLY AGE

In a study, it was found that when university students listened to Mozart, there was a significant increase in memory in cognitive functions. Among the music performed, especially Mozart group music showed an increase in spatial IQ scores. When a young child plays the violin, simultaneous improvements are observed at the tactile, visual, auditory and intellectual levels. Music raises a child’s cognitive skills and disciplines the brain. So why classical music? I like rock and listen to pop music as much as anyone, and I usually use these styles to keep my mood high. The problem is that it is very difficult to constantly catch a good mood with rock/pop. You can really feel excited when you’re playing pop or rock, but it’s hard to find more. A great disco soundtrack can make you feel good for twenty minutes, but then the effect fades out. In classical music, you are addressing much more important brain structures. According to a study conducted, intermittent sounds that rise upwards trigger tension, while long descending tones seem to have a calming effect. This research shows that we tend to respond positively to listening to calmer music because our heart rate doesn’t increase, which means we relax more. A study published in an important scientific journal, showed that music has the ability to stimulate parts of our brain that would not otherwise be used. Sometimes we associate certain memories or emotions with music, and this can stimulate our productivity. Researchers believe that listening to classical music not only helps us relax and calm down, makes us perform better, but also can change our thoughts. Listening to classical music relaxes and calms the mind, so that the mind can work at full capacity. Even introduce your children to classical music at an early age, help shape and develop their brains so that they can be more productive and healthier in the coming years.

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President of Organ Transplant Center at MedicalPark Hospital Antalya

Turkey's world-renowned organ transplant specialist. Dr. Demirbaş has 104 international publications and 102 national publications.

Physician's Resume:

Born on August 7, 1963 in Çorum, Prof. Dr. Alper Demirbaş has been continuing his work as the President of MedicalPark Antalya Hospital Organ Transplantation Center since 2008.

Prof. who performed the first tissue incompatible kidney transplant in Turkey, the first blood type incompatible kidney transplant, the first kidney-pancreas transplant program and the first cadaveric donor and live donor liver transplant in Antalya. Dr. As of August 2016, Alper Demirbaş has performed 4900 kidney transplants, 500 liver transplants and 95 pancreas transplants.

In addition to being the chairman of 6 national congresses, he has also been an invited speaker at 12 international and 65 national scientific congresses. Dr. Alper Demirbaş was married and the father of 1 girl and 1 boy.

Awards:

Eczacibasi Medical Award of 2002, Akdeniz University Service Award of 2005, Izder Medical Man of the Year Award of 2006, BÖHAK Medical Man of the Year Award of 2007, Sabah Mediterranean Newspaper Scientist of the Year Award of 2007, ANTIKAD Scientist of the Year Award of 2009, Social Ethics Association Award of 2010, Işık University Medical Man of the Year Award of 2015, VTV Antalya's Brand Value Award of 2015.

Certificates:

Doctor of Medicine Degree Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, General Surgeon Ministry of Health Turkey EKFMG (0-477-343-8), University of Miami School of Medicine Member of Multiple Organ Transplant, ASTS Multiorgan Transplant Scholarship. Lecturer at Kyoto University. Lecturer at University of Essen, Research assistant at the University of Cambridge .

Professional Members:

American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Transplantation Society Nominated, Middle East and Southern Africa Council Transplantation Society 2007, International Liver Transplantation Association, Turkish Transplantation Association, Turkish Society of Surgery, Turkish Hepatobiliary Surgery Association.

Disclaimer:

Our website contents consist of articles approved by our Web and Medical Editorial Board with the contributions of our physicians. Our contents are prepared only for informational purposes for public benefit. Be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Medically Reviewed by Professor Doctor Alper Demirbaş
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