Listening to music on a good set of speakers is an enjoyable experience all its own, but recent bodies of research show that getting that fix of deep focus or groovy jams might offer more health benefits than a tingling of the neurons.
Streaming and the Availability of Music on Demand
In the modern era, people like to listen to music to cut loose after a long day of work, or even to help them focus while they dig into a big project. Translating that to a home environment, streaming and wireless audio has made it easier than ever before to have music follow along with someone as they move throughout their day.
What Research Has Uncovered about the Potential Health Benefits of Music
A study from McGill University found that human brain rhythms sync with sound when listening to music. The researchers described the reaction as a physical “resonance” with brainwaves actively responding to the rhythm of the music.
The researchers reasoned that this reaction works to shape emotion, movement and meaning in the body when listening to the music.
The Science of ‘Groove’
Leaning into that idea, a Japanese study found that listening to music that entices someone to move with the beat can “significantly increase measures of executive function.”
To figure this out, the researchers used both brain imaging and measured individual psychological responses to music. The results were that researchers saw significantly increased brain activity in regions associated with cognition in humans.
Put in simpler terms, it means that listening to the right music has the potential to shape how we think at times for the better. Now all they need to do is test that with one of those “deep focus” work playlists.
Regular Listening and Dementia
The research being conducted into the health benefits of music doesn’t stop there, though. One study from Australia’s Monash University published earlier this year looked at a sample size of 10,000 people over 70 over the course of a decade to determine how music might impact cognitive capabilities as we age.
Participants identified as Always, Sometimes, Rarely, or Never with regards to how often they listened to music, with the researchers conducting follow-ups on participants three years in to check in on patient mental states.
At that follow-up, participants classed as Always listening to music were found to be 39% less likely to develop dementia and 17% less likely to develop milder forms of cognitive impairments.
A Caveat
While much research is being done into the health benefits of listening to music, there is still plenty more to be done. The findings discussed so far don’t necessarily offer definitive proof of music’s relationship to health, but instead a growing interest and body of work related to the topic.
Why This is Important
Streaming has rekindled a love affair with music, one where people want to be able to bring the music with them wherever they go. In the home, that desire can translate to whole-home audio systems being a distinct lifestyle add-on sought after by homeowners.
As purveyors of these systems, the role of an integrator is two parts: the first to inform the homeowner of any potential options they hadn’t thought of yet that might benefit their lifestyle wishes and the second to deliver on the system.
It might not be as essential as lighting to the appreciation of a space, but audio seemingly has the potential to influence our own thoughts and emotions in each area. People want to be able to listen to their music wherever, but as integrators, knowing how it can affect the end user can seriously help guide solutions towards lifestyle goals.
Plus, as the population continues to age, and more people seek to age independently, the ability for music to potentially impact the quality of life in the best way possible for these demographics makes it worth promoting on projects all the more.
