The science of music

1. The science of music How music affects emotions and evokes memories

2. Music and emotion • “Music doesn’t convey information in the usual sense, it doesn’t represent anything in the external world, but it can move one to depths. Music has a power to elicit every emotion and every mood, and every state of mind there is. I think this is why it exists in every culture” –Dr. Oliver Sacks

3. interpretation • -Improved learning, language processing, motor and physiological responses, oxygen flow, alertness, coordination • -Interpretation of music can convey an array of emotions • -Example: Movies, Sporting Events, Exercising, depression • Example • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9V0cN4NWs

4. EXPRESSION • -Cathartic • -Release of endorphins • -Release of oxytocin • -Choirs and group singing

5. Evolution/history • -Recognizing different non-verbal sounds • -Evolution of group living • -Social information • -Communication without speech • -Release of endorphins and oxytocin during group singing

6. Music and memories • -Music has the capacity to evoke memories in everyone • -Hearing specific songs can bring back specific memories, even of seemingly unimportant event • -Past popular songs

7. Amnesia and aphasia • -Many people suffering from loss of memories can still remember how to play an instrument because of it’s learned skill and intense coherence • -Hearing or playing songs can also evoke emotions • -Melodic intonation therapy – cerebral plasticity • -Aphasia patients may not be able to say a sentence, but they can sing a song

8. Parkinson’s • -Some patient’s have been seen who cannot move or speak, but can dance or sing after hearing music • -”In general, when one has a disease of the basal ganglia—such as Parkinson’s—and low levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, the flow of movement, speech, thought, and feeling has either stopped or takes on a stuttering, sputtering quality. Music can reorganize this and give the people a pattern and timing and rythym. So in this way I do think of music as a sort of prosthesis for the injured part of the brain.” –Dr. Oliver Sacks

9. Alzheimer’s • -Similar results are seen with Alzheimer’s patients • -After listening to music from their past, many patients who previously showed no memories remember many details. This lasts even after the music stops • -The area affected by music, the pre-frontal cortex, is one of the last affected by Alzheimer’s

10. Example of a song • -For me, “Vienna” by Billy Joel is emotion and memory evoking • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZdiXvDU4P0 • The Aesthetics • Unity • Harmony • Variety • Balance • Contrast • Proportion • Pattern

11. Development • -Depending on someone’s age and place in life, a song will have a very different effect on them • -Vienna has always been a song that evokes emotions for me, although the emotions that it has conveyed have been different throughout my life. The song itself hasn't changed but has provided a medium that has affected me both through interpretation and expression Therefore, many different memories are brought to life when I hear the song • -In Alzheimer’s patients music that was meaningful to patients in their early life brings back those memories when played and evokes emotion out of the patient

12. Ecology • -Music can affect a person in different ways depending on the context • -Shuffle vs. choosing the song • -Music affects Alzheimer's patients differently in a hospital setting than it would have affected them prior to their illness

13. evolution • -Ultimately, music helps improve fitness through coping mechanisms and social bonding • -Music brings people together, leading to tribes in the past and families today. • -Music helps one to cope through difficult times • -Music improves both mental and physical disabilities • -Although on a smaller scale, my example of a work of art, Vienna, did help me cope through many difficult times throughout my teen years, which improved my personal fitness in the world

14. Physiology • “Perceiving” Vienna by listening to it is relaxing, while “Expressing” Vienna by singing it or playing it on the guitar is cathartic • This is because of the way the brain is affected during the perception and expression of music • Music and memory are affected in the medial pre-frontal cortex, the same region is lit up during reflection and during music. This area is lit up the most during the most vivid memories recalled during music. This is one of the last places to go during Alzheimer’s • Endorphins  pleasure • Oxytocin  reduce anxiety and stress, enhance trust and bonding

15. Conclusion • -Each person is affected by music, whether expressing or perceiving, in a similar way to this • -It is physiologically affecting in mysterious ways that effect our fitness in the environment • -This has led to improved quality of life and fitness in individuals overall by using music in many ways, from as a therapy tool or in present day or as a way to provide social information in the past • -Has had a huge impact on mental disabilities and Alzheimer’s patients