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Psychological Health Effects of Musical Experiences pp 33–47Cite as

Music for Body and Soul: Physiological Effects of Listening to Music

Part of the SpringerBriefs in Psychology book series (BRIEFSPSYCHOL)

Abstract

Music impulses are transmitted in the brain via two different routes labelled “upper” (cognitive and relatively slow) and “lower” (emotional and relatively fast). The fact that the emotional processes are much faster than the cognitive ones is the basis for the “emotional surprises” that cultural experiences can offer. Part of the music experience literally speaks more directly to the brain than does cognitive reasoning. This creates the basis of the therapeutic principles in music therapy. There are diversified effects of music listening (sad, joyful, anxiety provoking etc.) on heart rate, heart rate variability, hormones related to energy mobilisation and hormones associated with regeneration/anabolism. Dance movements and music experiences are closely correlated in complicated ways. Individuals have very different reaction patterns, but some general principles can still be formulated

Keywords

  • Anxiety
  • Emotion
  • Amygdala
  • Mirror neurons
  • Longevity

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  1. Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Töres Theorell

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Theorell, T. (2014). Music for Body and Soul: Physiological Effects of Listening to Music. In: Psychological Health Effects of Musical Experiences. SpringerBriefs in Psychology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8920-2_5

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