Music is an art form that involves sounds, rhythms, melodies and harmonies. But as well as being a source of pleasure and emotion, music can also bring benefits to our brain and cognitive development, according to neuroscience.
Neuroscience is the science that studies the functioning of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It seeks to understand how neurons communicate with each other and how they process the information they receive from the environment and our body.
One of the fields of neuroscience dedicated to studying the effects of music on the brain is neuromusic. Neuromusic investigates how the brain perceives, produces and responds to music, using techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Neuromusic studies have shown that music can stimulate various areas of the brain involved in functions such as memory, attention, language, emotion, creativity and motor coordination. In addition, music can promote neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize itself as a result of experiences.
Learning music, whether by playing an instrument or singing, is a way of exercising the brain and enhancing these benefits. Learning music requires skills such as auditory perception, score reading, logical-mathematical reasoning, emotional expression and synchronization with other musicians.
Some of the benefits of learning music, according to neuroscience, are:
Improving academic performance: learning music can improve cognitive skills related to school learning, such as memory, concentration, logical reasoning and problem-solving. Studies have shown that children who learn music have better grades in math, reading and writing than those who don’t learn.
– Developing language: learning music can facilitate language development, both in speaking and writing. Music stimulates areas of the brain responsible for understanding and producing language, such as the auditory cortex, the prefrontal cortex and Heschl’s gyrus. In addition, learning music can help you learn other languages, as it improves your ability to discriminate sounds and imitate pronunciations.
– Increasing creativity: learning music can increase creativity, which is the ability to generate original and innovative ideas. Music activates areas of the brain linked to imagination, intuition and emotion, such as the right temporal cortex, the medial prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex.
In addition, learning music can stimulate cognitive flexibility, the ability to change perspective and adapt to new situations.
– Reducing stress: learning music can reduce stress, which is the body’s reaction to challenging or threatening situations. Music releases hormones such as endorphins and dopamine, which cause feelings of pleasure and well-being. In addition, learning music can lower cortisol levels, which is a hormone related to stress.
– Promoting social well-being: learning music can promote social well-being, the quality of the relationships we establish with other people. Music encourages communication, cooperation and empathy between individuals. In addition, learning music can increase self-esteem, the positive assessment we make of ourselves.
Therefore, learning music is an activity that can bring many benefits to our brain and cognitive development.
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