How Music Affects The Brain

All cultures on Earth have signs of music. Music affects humans in both positive and negative ways. Classical music not only lifts the mood, it also lowers blood pressure and heart rate while bringing the mind into a relaxed state. The mind can then concentrate and stay more alert. All of which enhance the brains ability to learn and retain what it has learned. It is proven that music can change a person's mood while simultaneously causing the body to physically respond. Music may also enhance or weaken emotions at events such as funerals and other sad events.

The human brain is broken down into two parts called the right and left hemispheres. People once believed that the right side of the brain was "the seat of music appreciation" but this has proved to be false because, people with damage to

Studies have however shown that music perception is a result of both of the hemispheres of the brain being stimulated. For the brain to interpret music, all sound must go into the ears and travel through to the auditory cortex (cell conglomerations located in the temporal lobe just above each ear). The cortex determines pitch, harmony, timbre, and rhythm. The left side of the brain is used to asses fast or dramatic changes in pitch and intensity. Both the left and right hemispheres are essential for the brain for complete rhythm perception, without both sides, the brain would be unable to distinguish the difference between three-quarter time and four-quarter time. The front of the brain is where memories are stored and also where emotions are controlled. So, when music is affecting someone's emotions, it