“If you want to firm up your body, head to the gym. If you want to exercise your brain, listen to music.”
The good news is—you can do both.

The psychological effects of music can be powerful and wide-ranging. Music therapy is an intervention sometimes used to promote emotional health, help patients cope with stress, and boost overall psychological well-being. Some research even suggests that musical preferences can provide insight into different aspects of personality.

Music has been used as a tool to promote physical and mental recovery for centuries. The ancient Greeks were among the first to describe music as a rational treatment strategy. Today, music is considered a highly desirable option for pain management because it is cost-effective, easy to administer, non-invasive, free of side effects, and does not negatively interact with medications. There is overwhelming behavioral evidence showing that passive music listening can reduce perceived pain, with hundreds of published studies describing this phenomenon, known as “music-induced analgesia.”

Below is a summary of findings from various scientific studies highlighting

11 powerful benefits of listening to appropriate music:

“Music can change the world because it can change people.”

— Bono

It supports heart health.
Research has shown that blood flows more easily when music is played. Listening to music can reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, decrease cortisol (the stress hormone), and increase serotonin (a mood-regulating neurotransmitter) and endorphin (the body’s natural painkiller) levels.
It changes the brain.
Neurological researchers have found that listening to music triggers the release of neurochemicals essential to brain function and mental health, including dopamine (associated with pleasure and reward), serotonin, immune-related hormones, and oxytocin, which enhances social bonding.
It improves memory.
Researchers gave participants tasks that required reading and recalling short lists of words. Those who listened to classical music outperformed individuals who worked in silence or with white noise.
It elevates mood.
Music boosts dopamine production in the brain, helping to relieve anxiety and depression. It is processed directly by the amygdala, the brain region responsible for emotions and mood regulation.
It eases pain.
Music can significantly reduce the perceived intensity of pain, particularly in geriatric care, intensive care units, and palliative medicine.
It helps manage pain.
By lowering stress levels and competing with pain signals sent to the brain, music therapy can play an effective role in pain management.
It reduces stress.
Studies show that listening to music can trigger biochemical responses that reduce stress and promote relaxation.
It relieves symptoms of depression.
When you’re feeling low, music can help lift your mood—much like physical exercise.
It motivates learning.
Research indicates that even the anticipation of listening to music can increase motivation. In a 2019 study, participants were more motivated to learn when they expected music as a reward.
It helps regulate eating.
Playing soft background music and dimming lights during meals can encourage slower eating and reduce overall food intake.
It increases endurance.
Multiple studies show that listening to motivating music can boost physical performance and increase endurance during challenging workouts.

In conclusion, music has the power to improve mood, reduce pain and anxiety, and enhance both mental and physical performance. Pay attention to how different types of music affect you and choose what works best for your needs. What helps one person concentrate may distract another, and what helps one person relax may energize someone else.