A Música nos Afeta?

Does Music Affect Us?

Music can lift you up. It can bring tears to your eyes. It can help you relax or make you get up and dance. You probably hear it several times a day—on the radio or TV, in the supermarket, at the gym or hummed by a passerby. Music’s been with us since ancient times, and it’s part of every known culture.
Singing favorite songs with family and friends, playing in a band or dancing to music can also help you bond with others. It’s a way of synchronizing groups of people and engaging in a common activity that everyone can do at the same time.
“Without music, life would be a mistake” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Of course music affects us in different ways. Since music is such a big part of our lives, I thought it would be interesting and useful to have a look at some of the ways that musics have in our lives. So lets look at some of the aspects on human beings that music affects.

1) Effects of music on brain

Music, though it appears to be similar to features of language, is more rooted in the primitive brain structures that are involved in motivation, reward and emotion. Whether it is the first familiar notes of The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” or the beats preceding AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” the brain synchronizes neural oscillators with the pulse of the music (through cerebellum activation), and starts to predict when the next strong beat will occur.

The response to ‘groove’ is mainly unconscious; it is processed first through the cerebellum and amygdala rather than the frontal lobes.

2) Effects of music on mood

Music isn’t just good for elevating our mood. A study suggested that people who are going through break-ups or having relationship problems prefer music and experiences that reflect their negative mood.
Another study suggested that the preference for sad music was significantly higher when people experienced an interpersonal loss as opposed to an impersonal loss, such as losing a game.
Music therapy has been used for centuries as a way to restore energy, improve mood, and even help the body heal more naturally.

3) Effects of music on body

When we are born, our brain has not yet differentiated itself into different components for different senses – this differentiation occurs much later in life. So as babies, it is theorized that we view the world as a large, pulsing combination of colors and sounds and feelings, all melded into one experience – ultimate synesthesia. As our brains develop, certain areas become specialised in vision, speech, hearing, and so forth.

4) Effects of music on emotions

Music has the power to stimulate strong emotions within us. Perhaps the primary reason for music listening is the power that music has in stirring our emotions. The study of music and emotion seeks to understand the psychological relationship between human affect and music. Music has been reported to evoke the full range of human emotion : from sad, nostalgic, and tense, to happy, relaxed, calm, and joyous. Correspondingly, neuroimaging studies have shown that music can activate the brain areas typically associated with emotions. The deep brain structures that are part of the limbic system like the amygdala and the hippocampus as well as the pathways that transmit dopamine (for pleasure associated with music-listening). 
Music Moves You, Even If You Refuse to Dance.

5) Effects of music on memory

A great deal of research has shown that musics have direct influence on forming memories. Some people, especially students, think that listening to music helps the memory. Historically, supporters of this practice have referred to this as the “Mozart effect.” Most students, of course, listen to pop music rather than Mozart. Students are notorious for listening to music while studying. Unfortunately, for some people listening to music can be an unpleasant challenge. About 1 in 50 people have a disorder called tune deafness. They have trouble hearing the differences between musical tones. They can’t carry a tune.

Even for persons with severe dementia(a disease), music can tap deep emotional recall. For individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s, memory for things—names, places, facts—is compromised, but memories from our teenage years can be well-preserved. 

6) Effects of music on performance

Music is regarded as one of the triumphs of human creativity. But does music itself help one to create? 
A series of experiments has investigated the relationship between the playing of background music during the performance of repetitive work and efficiency in performing such a task. The results give strong support to the contention that economic benefits can accrue from the use of music in industry. In a research, the researchers found that those who listened to music completed their tasks more quickly and came up with better ideas than those who didn’t, because the music improved their mood.

7) Effects of music on people

In people’s life there is a point, a main focus, that causes that person to become what they are. Music can help you draw closer to your Heavenly Father. It can be used to educate, edify, inspire, and unite. However, music can, by its tempo, beat, intensity, and lyrics, dull your spiritual sensitivity. You cannot afford to fill your minds with unworthy music. Music can enrich your life in so many ways. Your choice of music can also affect your ability to accomplish tasks or to learn.

So, I would suggest to listen to the music that makes you feel better and joyful.