Music could help ease pain from surgery or illness Scientists are listening Los Angeles Times

Music therapy uses music in various ways to help a person manage or overcome physical, psychological, cognitive, and social conditions. Below are a few of the most common potential benefits of treating depression with music therapy. One major challenge was how to measure our participants’ dopamine levels non-invasively.

Harnessing Music for Health

It not only lifted my spirits but sent my heart racing with excitement – I could feel the tingles of motivation coursing through my veins. The brain’s reward system consists of interconnected regions, with the nucleus accumbens serving as its powerhouse. It is situated deep within the subcortical region, and its location hints at its significant involvement in emotion processing, given its proximity to other key regions related to this.

Whether through headphones, choirs, or ancient drums, music continues to heal, inspire, and move us—proof that sometimes the most powerful medicine is not found in silence, but in song. For children, music stimulates development, supporting language, motor skills, and social learning. In adolescence, music becomes a tool of identity, allowing teens to explore emotions and find belonging. In later years, music provides comfort, connection, and memory support, enriching the lives of the elderly. Singing in a choir, for example, synchronizes breathing and heartbeats among members, creating a shared physiological rhythm.

Music was my profession, but it was also a special and deeply personal pursuit … Most importantly, it gave me a way to cope with life’s challenges, learning to channel my feelings and express them safely. Music taught me how to take my thoughts, both the pleasant and the painful ones, and turn them into something beautiful. In our laboratory at Northumbria University, we aim to harness these recent neuroscience advances to deepen our understanding of the intricate connection between music, the brain and mental wellbeing.

What happens during a music therapy session?

• National anthems unite countries, hymns bring communities together, and concerts turn strangers into companions sharing a collective experience.
• A healthcare provider called a music therapist talks to you to learn more about your needs, music preferences and experiences, and designs each session specifically for you.
• The act of making music—whether singing, drumming, or playing an instrument—can be equally therapeutic.

Researchers are exploring how personalized playlists can aid sleep, manage chronic pain, or reduce symptoms of dementia. Advances in neuroscience may allow us to map brain responses to specific rhythms and melodies, tailoring music interventions with precision. Music therapy is a healthcare profession in which a qualified music therapist designs your sessions with specific, individualized goals in mind.

Whatever your goals, it’s the struggle to get there that’s most rewarding. It’s almost as if life itself is inviting us to embrace difficulty—not as punishment but as a design feature. Living Through Collapse is my fourth album, and it feels markedly different from my first three. Earlier in my career, my songwriting was around themes women are often encouraged (and rewarded) to focus on in pop music—romantic relationships, generally. I remember reading a review of my music that referred to me as a “torch singer” and cringing.

How many music therapy sessions do I need?

The auditory cortex, located in the temporal lobe, decodes pitch and tone. The limbic system—the emotional hub of the brain—responds to music with powerful feelings, from joy to sadness to nostalgia. Dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, surges when we listen to music we enjoy, creating a sense of reward similar to eating chocolate or receiving praise. It’s important to keep in mind that music therapy isn’t just for children. If you’re interested in music therapy for your child, talk to your pediatrician about how you can connect with a music therapist to learn more.

Slow-tempo, soft music slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and relaxes tense muscles. This effect explains why music is often used in hospitals, spas, and meditation practices. A music therapist can help you understand more about the unique aspects Healing through music of music therapy and how it may benefit you. They can also explain how you may use music in your daily life, outside of your sessions, to enjoy other benefits.

How music heals us, even when it’s sad – by a neuroscientist leading a new study of musical therapy

The music therapy process for treating a depressive disorder may also increase the confidence of those participating. Creating or participating in music can show individuals new skills they may not have been aware of. As they grow their musical abilities, they may feel more able to take control of their emotions, symptoms, and challenges as an additional potential effect of music therapy. One controlled trial suggests that music therapy may be highly effective in improving self-esteem in adults and potentially in children and adolescents as well. Music therapists often do not hold the same credentials as traditional therapists.

Musician Doe Paoro on music, ritual, and healing

This understanding forms the basis for developing future targeted music therapy interventions that cater to people facing difficulties with emotional regulation, rumination and even depression. In other words, even sad music can be a tool for personal growth and reflection. The number of sessions you have, the length of each session and what you do depends on your individual needs and goals.

Through structured improvisation or precomposed pieces, music therapists guide clients to explore feelings and develop social skills, problem‐solving skills, and increased self‐awareness. In correctional facilities and special‐needs programs, including those for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), these interventions can foster emotional regulation and improve social functioning. Certified music practitioners (MT-BC) may integrate other forms of art for a holistic approach. Ultimately, music therapy experiences aim to empower individuals to manage mental health and physical challenges in a creative way. A typical music therapy session may focus on a client’s goals in their treatment plan, such as improving cognitive skills, boosting self-esteem, or easing physical pain. Music therapists choose between making music and encouraging reflective listening.

These examples remind us that music’s power is double-edged—it amplifies emotions, for better or worse. For many, music is not just art or entertainment—it is a gateway to the spiritual. Religious traditions use chants, hymns, and sacred instruments to connect with the divine. Meditation practices incorporate sound to quiet the mind and expand awareness. Neuroscience calls this the “frisson” effect—a wave of pleasure triggered by sudden shifts in harmony, tempo, or intensity.

Music and Physical Health

• Parallel to this, I had been apprenticing extensively with Indigenous healers, specifically in the Shipibo tradition in Peru, where singing is central to the healing process.
• If you partake in music therapy involving improvised dance or musical creation, you may be able to further experiment with your creativity and expression through the effects of music by following your own rhythm.
• Genres like jazz or lo-fi have become popular for focus and relaxation, creating the perfect ambiance for deep work or meditation.
• As it can be harmful to your physical and mental health to suppress emotions long-term, a music therapy intervention may be a way to release emotional pain or challenging feelings without overwhelming yourself.
• “Pain is interpreted and translated by the brain,” which may ratchet the signal up or down, said Dr. Gilbert Chandler, a specialist in chronic spinal pain at the Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic.

For children, integrating melody into therapy can guide them through transitions and support a child’s development in language and motor coordination. Whether through passive listening or active singing, music has a universal capacity to uplift mood and promote overall physical and emotional well-being for children and adults alike. Music therapy can be as simple as listening to music or playing instruments. Music therapists often start by asking about musical tastes and then move into creating music activities. Improvisation on percussion may encourage spontaneity and connection.

Tracks with higher BPMs, like dance or pop hits, naturally energize and uplift, while slower BPMs, often found in ballads or classical pieces, calm the mind and slow your heart rate. Studies, such as one published in PubMed, have shown that music with slower tempos can significantly reduce heart rate and cortisol levels, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. Record labels and artists often use this science to evoke specific emotions, creating deeply immersive listening experiences that resonate universally. Listening, dancing, or just tapping along shows how life can be enriched by melody and rhythm.