Synthesis Paper

The purpose of this synthesis paper is to combine multiple cited sources in a cohesive and clear analysis and explanation. Furthermore the idea of this paper is to explain the ideas of others on a research question, the research question chosen is, should music and sound be used as medicinal purposes to improve the health of the human body.

Review of the Literature

The first study in review is based on the effect of music on the human stress response, this study suggests how listening to music impacts the human health system in the process of stress reducing (Newton, 2013). The findings in this study have indicated that listening to music impacts the stress system, and can help the autonomic nervous stress make a better and faster recovery. The results show that the researchers hypothesized that listening to relaxing music prior to a stress test, compared to rippling water and having rest without acoustic stimulation had decreased salivary cortisol, heart rate, helps the respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and creates less of a stress response across all measured parameters (Newton, 2013).

The second study in review is based on the use of music as medicine, the study recognizes how music is an effective form of therapy to provide an outlet for emotions (Novotney, 2013). Using songs, frequencies and rhythm to treat certain impairments of our physical ailments. The researchers in this study discover and explore how there are healing powers with the use of vibration, the absorbing of the vibrations through the body can help patients who have symptoms of Parkinson disease, fibromyalgia and depression. The researchers also found after stimulating one of their patients with 40 hertz sounds for a half-hour three times a week within four weeks, helped the patient be able to recall the names of their grandchildren.

Music and Sound in the medical field

The big idea is that music and sound should be made more a part of the medical field, and used as a possible replacement as a natural substance to help cure our physical impairments.

Analysis

In comparison, both studies dedicate the time and efforts to offer and understand the qualities of music, and how it benefits the human body so that we can improve our daily lives and fight the physical and mental impairments which disrupt our daily living habits. Both studies are described to be music therapy, and used to improve the human body.

The two studies differ by what they are primarily focused on in regards to helping the patient heal quicker; in the effect of music on the human stress response, this study examines the effects across endocrine, autonomic, cognitive, and emotional domains of the human stress response (Newton, 2013). The second study, music as medicine, focuses on how it can help certain people who deal with symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia and depression (Novotney, 2013).

The Conclusions

In the conclusions from both articles, researchers found that music can help both stress on the human body and lessen the impacts of certain types of diseases to many patients. In example musical therapy can treat both pain and reduce stress in a patients overall life, and can help provide an outlet for a persons’ emotions, a notion of using song, sound frequencies and rhythm to treat certain disabilities that can impair a person’s ability to live their life (Novotney, 2013). Overall, music is an incredible phenomenon that is merely experienced through a strong connection of the human soul and outside world.

References

Brönnimann, Rebecca. Ehlert, Ulrike. Finkle, Linda. Marca, La. Roberto. Nater, Urs. Thoma, V. Myriam. (2013). The effect of music on the human stress response. Editor Roberto L. Newton. Published online 2013 Aug 5. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070156. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3734071/.

Novotney, Amy., (2013). Music as medicine. American Psychological Association. Vol 44, No. 10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/e634362013-021 . Retrieved from:http://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music.aspx.