Music's Effects

Music increases happiness. When an individual listens to music they like the brain releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters, one of these neurotransmitters is called dopamine (Chemical compound shown to the right). Dopamine is responsible for the feeling of pleasure, satisfaction, happiness, and joy and it only takes 15 minutes of listening to music that you like to give you body enough of a dopamine release to get a "natural high."

Listening to or playing music can help with anxiety and stress. When you participate in musical activities that you enjoy, even if that just means listening to music or humming along to your favorite songs, you brain reduces the amount of the hormone known as cortisol (See chemical compound image to the left). Cortisol is responsible for causing stress and anxiousness. So more music equals less cortisol which, in turn, causes less stress and makes you live a happier healthier life.

Music can help with depression. We already know that engaging in musical activities is known to produce dopamine which is key to feeling happier. However the brain also releases serotonin (Chemical compound depicted to the right, closer of the 2) which is another neurotransmitter responsible for the feeling of well-being, and norepinephrine (Chemical compound depicted far right), a hormone tasked with providing a feeling of euphoria. As you can see music is extremely effective in combatting depression.