The Chemistry of Music

Introduction

The chemistry of music is not something that can be made from a bottle. I chose this topic because I listen to music everyday of my life and would like to know if there is chemistry is involved with music and how it affects our moods. Music affects anyone who put on a pair of headphones. Our moods while listening to music is usually higher and we are more relax when listening to music people highly enjoyed. Music has affected my life, because when I put on a pair of headphones and listen to music I highly enjoyed my mood is affected.

Composition of ...

    • The dopamine release when listening to highly enjoyed music is more likely release at the participant favorite part of the current song being played.
    • Research shows that humans have a higher emotional state when listening to music they highly enjoy.
    • Music reacts to the mood- enchanting emotions in our brains, completely changing the chemistry.
    • Researchers marked when participants felt a shiver down the spine of the sort many people feel in response to a favorite piece of music.
  • This “chill” or “musical frisson” pinpointed when the volunteers were feeling maxim pleasure.

Main Chemicals, Compounds, Components

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/health/brain-music-research/

    • What? In one study, researchers studied patients who were about to undergo surgery. Participants were randomly assigned to listen to music or take anti- anxiety drugs. The results; the participants who listen to music had less anxiety and lower cortisol than the people who took the drugs.
    • How? “The promise here is that music is less expensive than drugs, and it’s easier on the body and it doesn’t have side effects.” - Daniel Levitin, psychologist who studies the neuroscience of music at McGill University in Montreal.
    • When? This is only one study, it’ll take several more studies to come to a conclusion.
    • Why? Music is a powerful medicinal use.
  • Where? McGill University in Montreal.

Chemistry's Role

    • The main component in music is how it enhances a person’s moods to either be rocking out in the car or reading in the bedroom. Music is mystery when it involves the brain and why it makes feel so good in the first place. Many studies have been completed by scientists, yet they have not come to a solid answer.
  • Music created by favorite bands or artists that put in the work to create such music that’s toe tapping. The chemistry behind the music is not yet to be confirm. Music has a powerful method that sets a person in a happy or neutral mood.

Background Research

http://blog.creativelive.com/music-pleasure-chest/

    • Music brings us pleasure because it literally changes our brain chemistry.
    • Music triggers the parts of our brain associated with reward, motivation, and emotion, which causes the feelings of pleasure that we get when we put on our headphones.
    • Scientists found that the more neutral activity and dopamine release, the more money the listener was willingly to spend to purchase said music.
    • The auditory cortex actually allows to show us to recall music and experience it again, even if it’s not playing.
  • All of this brain function leads music to be an important part of our lives.

Resources

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-12135590

    • The first time that the chemical- called dopamine - had been tested in response to music.
    • Dopamine increases in response to other stimuli such as food and money.
    • In this study, levels of dopamine were found to be up 9% when volunteers were listening to music they enjoyed.
    • The report author says it’s significant in providing that humans obtain pleasure from music- an abstract reward - that is comparable with the pleasure obtained from more basic biological stimuli.
    • The research didn’t answer why music is so important to humans- but it proved that it was.
    • Volunteers were gathered for two sessions called a PET scan. One session volunteers listen to music they highly enjoyed, for the second session volunteers listen to music they were neutral.
    • Dopamine was gathered from data, and dopamine transmission was higher when the participants were listening to music they highly enjoyed.
  • A key element of the study was to measure the release of dopamine, when the participants were feeling their highest emotional response to music.

About the Author

Natasha Frazier is a junior at Billings Senior High School. She enjoys movies, music, traveling, reading, and is decent in chemistry. School has never been her favorite time of day, but she tolerates it to get an education.