Music and the Brain and Happiness
The below is an interesting article showing that listening to music that is associated with positive memories may benefit one’s emotional well being.
Sandra Lora Cremers, MD, FACS
Sci Rep. 2014 Aug 28;4:6130. doi: 10.1038/srep06130.
Network science and the effects of music preference on functional brain connectivity: from Beethoven to Eminem.
- 11] Laboratory for Complex Brain Networks, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 [2] Neuroimaging Laboratory for Complex Systems, Gateway MRI Center, Joint School for Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, University of North Carolina Greensboro, NC 27401 [3] MusicResearch Institute, University of North Carolina Greensboro, NC 27403.
- 2Music Research Institute, University of North Carolina Greensboro, NC 27403.
- 3Laboratory for Complex Brain Networks, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157.
Abstract
Most people choose to listen to music that they prefer or ‘like’ such as classical, country or rock. Previous research has focused on how different characteristics of music (i.e., classical versus country) affect the brain. Yet, when listening to preferred music–regardless of the type–people report they often experience personal thoughts and memories. To date, understanding how this occurs in the brain has remained elusive. Using network science methods, we evaluated differences in functional brain connectivity when individuals listened to complete songs. We show that a circuit important for internally-focused thoughts, known as the default mode network, was most connected when listening to preferred music. We also show that listening to a favorite song alters the connectivity between auditory brain areas and the hippocampus, a region responsible for memory and social emotion consolidation. Given that musical preferences are uniquely individualized phenomena and that music can vary in acoustic complexity and the presence or absence of lyrics, the consistency of our results was unexpected. These findings may explain why comparable emotional and mental states can be experienced by people listening to music that differs as widely as Beethoven and Eminem. The neurobiological and neurorehabilitation implications of these results are discussed.
HERD. 2014 Summer;7(4):108-19.
Effects of environmental design on patient outcome: a systematic review.
- 1CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Jannie Laursen, Department of Surgery, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev; Jannie.laursen@regionh.dk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this systematic review was to assess how inpatients were affected by the built environment design during their hospitalization.
BACKGROUND:
Over the last decade, the healthcare system has become increasingly aware of how focus on healthcare environment might affect patient satisfaction. The focus on environmental design has become a field with great potential because of its possible impact on cost control while improving quality of care.
METHODS:
A systematic literature search was conducted to identify current and past studies about evidence-based healthcare design. The following databases were searched: Medline/PubMed, Cinahl, and Embase. Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of built environment design interventions such as music, natural murals, and plants in relation to patients’ health outcome.
RESULTS:
Built environment design aspects such as audio environment and visual environment had a positive influence on patients’ health outcomes. Specifically the studies indicated a decrease in patients’ anxiety, pain, and stress levels when exposed to certain built environment design interventions.
CONCLUSIONS:
The built environment, especially specific audio and visual aspects, seems to play an important role in patients’ outcomes, making hospitals a better healing environment for patients.
