By Connor Khauv
How the Ear Works
The outer ear collects and sends sound waves to the eardrums where they are converted to vibrations. The middle ear is the portion responsible for relaying these vibrations and concentrating them on the cochlea’s oval window. From there, the vibrations create fluid waves in the cochlea activating hair receptor cells on the basilar membrane. The hair cells then trigger neural impulses that travel along the auditory nerve and to the auditory cortex in the brain.
Music and Stress
In a New York study of surgical patients, 40 cataract patients who averaged 74 years of age were assigned ordinary care with or without listening to music before, during, and after surgery. Before surgery, the controlled and experimental groups both experienced similar blood pressures. Findings revealed that the patients who listened to music felt calmer and had experienced lowered blood pressure during and after surgery while the controlled group was more hypertensive. Other studies have revealed that patients listening to music needed less calming medication. An Italian study revealed that the tempo of music impacts how aroused or relaxed we are as slow and meditative music led to relaxation while fast tempos led to arousal.
Music and Mood
The various types of music that are available all produce different effects on our moods. Listening to bright and cheerful music results in feelings of happiness, energy, and alertness while sad and depressing music results in feelings that are less joyful and more solemn. According to research studies from 1994-1999, music therapy reduced symptoms of depression and a 2006 study revealed that patients with chronic pain experienced reduced pain and depression as a result of listening to music. Listening to music has also been shown to improve sleeping habits in individuals with sleep disorders.
Music and the Heart Surprisingly enough, apart from mental improvements, listening to music may also produce cardiovascular benefits. From multiple studies, it has been revealed that music may help improve heart health which includes heart rate, breathing rate, and circulation. A Wisconsin study of 45 heart attack patients revealed findings of lower heart rate, breathing rate, and oxygen demand in patients who listened to music during treatment. In another study, scientists discovered that the genre of music we listen to can lead to changed blood flow. The findings revealed that joyful music increased blood flow and sad music decreased blood flow.
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