We all know the experience of hearing a favorite song and feeling a rush of pleasure or instantly starting to tap our feet. Music has powerful and diverse effects on both the body and mind, influencing breathing and heart rate, triggering the release of hormones, stimulating the immune system, and boosting the brain’s cognitive and emotional centers.
There’s no one single type of reaction to music. That’s part of what makes music such a unique and powerful tool. Different melodies, tempos, and rhythms can trigger vastly different reactions, as can music with lyrics or music without words. Then there are our unique, individual emotional responses to music and the memories we each associate with music that’s familiar to us. (Music activates many parts of the brain, including the hippocampus, which processes memories.)
As a tool to improve sleep, soothing, relaxing music can:
Slow breathing Lower heart rate Lower blood pressure Quiet the nervous system Ease muscle tension Reduce stress and anxiety Trigger the release of sleep-friendly hormones, including serotonin and oxytocin Reduce sleep-stifling hormones like cortisol
