In Concert: How Music Affects the Brain

Music is a ubiquitous presence across all human cultures, and the discovery of a flute created by our prehistoric ancestors indicates that it goes back to at least 40,000 BCE during the Paleolithic period. The reason for the creation of music is not fully understood, but these facts suggest that it is a fundamental and inherent part of the human experience.

Music has also been established to have a relationship with learning and cognition. Playing a musical instrument has been shown to improve math and problem-solving skills. It stimulates the same parts of the brain as math because it requires critical thinking, learning to read new symbols, and using counting and fractions to keep track of time signatures and rhythm. For similar reasons, it has been demonstrated to improve cognitive skills such as memory in older adults as well. Research indicates that listening to music can also help facilitate healing and improve health by reducing stress and pain.

The articles in this volume will explore these many facets of the relationship between music and the brain. In Section 1, “Your Brain on Music,” the articles look at the ways music has been found to influence neurological and psychological activity through considering scientific research. In Section 2, “Music and Learning,” authors offer perspectives on the ways music can influence ones mathematical and reading skills, along with cognition and learning more broadly. Section 3, “The Healing Power of Music,” looks at research into the health benefits