“According to a study done at Stanford, music improves the connectivity between the left and right hemispheres of the brain; this could improve your student’s academic performance and long-term memory”; this was what my middle school orchestra director mentioned to my parents and my friends’ parents with the intention of making sure we stick to orchestra throughout upper school.

While I did keep this in the back of my mind, I did not realize the true, life-changing impact of music on brain functions until I started performing music at senior facilities. Seniors who had memory-related challenges were humming and singing along when we played popular music that they had heard before. It was amazing to see the that, though they may have lost their memory of those closest to them, seniors experiencing memory issues were able to find momentary joy in the unending language of music. This experience kindled my interest in the effect of music on brain functions.

Here are some links to a couple of articles, studies, and podcasts that dive into the relationship between the brain and music:

Studies/Articles:

• How does the brain respond to music?
• Music Education and Brain Development
• How Does Music Affect Your Brain?
• Scientists identify a neural population highly selective for music.
• The Positive Influence of Music on the Human Brain
• Can listening to the Beatles improve your memory? New research says music just might stir the brain.
• So, you love music. It cares for you, too.
• Music can be helpful for those who need it most.
• Music moves brain to pay attention, organize events
• The healing power of music
• Keep Your Brain Young with Music
• Music and the brain: the neuroscience of music and musical appreciation
• What is the secret of music’s strange power?
• Your Brain on Music: The Sound System Between Your Ears
• How Does Music Affect Your Brain?
• Music, Brain, and Rehabilitation: Emerging Therapeutic Applications and Potential Neural Mechanisms
• The Benefits of Studying with Music
• Does music improve child brain development?
• Music training speeds up brain development in children

Podcasts:

• The Library of Congress: Music and the Brain