Your Brain On Classical Music (Better Mental Health)
Decreased cortisol, spiked dopamine, lower blood pressure.
Currently, I’m listening to Ludovico Einaudi on repeat. It’s relaxing, calming, and inspiring.
I’m relatively new to classical music — something I’ve come to as one of the many ways I manage anxiety.
Turns out, my attraction to classical music (often accompanied by candles and incense) is no mistake.
Classical music has been found to powerfully boost mental health. And while it's no cure-all, it’s a tool we all ought to know about.
What’s going on in the brain?
In 2013 professor Dr. Gordon Shaw discovered an increase in IQ in his students after they listened to Mozart for just ten minutes. While the impacts were only temporary, it did show exciting possibilities.
It’s since been discovered that classical music does have an impact on the brain.
Listening to classical music has been found to enhance the areas of the brain associated with dopamine secretion, learning, and memory. It’s also been shown to down-regulate the genes associated with stress.
