The Effects of Sound on the Human Body

Justin Gamache
Jul 31, 2015
19 min read

Introduction

Music and sound has been vastly influenced throughout the history of human life on this planet. Today music and sound are used as a medicine to improve the overall quality of life, to discover what music does to the human stress response, and how it effects the human brain. Patients of music find it to be a reliever of stress, pain, anxiety issues, and can help get through cancer treatments. While students of music are found to have increased grades, high GPAs, creativity, and higher intellectual reasoning about school and life. The purpose of this research is to build a study group which will examine the use of music and silence by experimenting with music, sound, and silence in four groups of elderly citizens. This study will help develop research in the medical field, but also build a music program for the local school that allows students to be expressive, creative, have fun, and experience what health benefits music has to offer. Finally, this proposal will be the standing foundation for music therapy and music education that will help fill the gaps to understanding the effects of sound on the human body.

Review of the Literature

Music as Medicine

Amy Novotney (2014) said that “music has been recognized as an effective form of therapy to provide an outlet for emotions” (para. 5). Music is the center of emotion, feelings, art, creativity, and these are the things that I have personal experience with on a continuous cycle in my life. So if music can be used as a medicine to treat the mental impairments of depression, then why are prescriptions still being written for treatments? I say music is an evolutionary break through, and its power is unbelievable. That is when there becomes an understanding that sound frequencies and rhythm can be used as a treatment to help improve our physical conditions that is experienced in the human body then we will truly grasp its natural powers. There are some cases which allow for studies to be using music as medicine, and one of those studies take place at the children’s hospital near the University of Iowa. Researcher Molly Rossiter (2013) found that the effects of music on younger children who have physical and mental conditions that impairs them to speak or participate in other social activities actually helps develops a strong level of communication (para. 5) . The use of music as medicine helps children heal, puts a smile on their face, and even relaxes them so that they can get a good night’s rest. While there are a growing number of musical therapist in this world, doctors have agreed that music used as medicine that involves a functional guitar, piano, and a voice can help patients recover faster from the physical and mental impairments that tie the human body down (para. 4). There are natural reasons for anyone to embark on the journey of musical therapy, and from personal experiences I have used musical therapy to help the physical impairments of arthritis that I live with today. Living with arthritis is something I’ve experienced for twenty nine years, and so I use music as my personal treatments for this pain. It’s a fact from experience that the effects of sound on the human body have positive effects, and the effects are truly out of this world. Research found in the Berkeley Wellness (2014), that an idea describes music to have healing powers like medicine. Its powers have occurred in many cultures and travels back to ancient times, which also talks about Apollo the God of music and healing (para. 1). Research confirms that music has psychological and physiological effects which found to be good for the mind, body and soul (para. 2). also be described by certain medical imaging that showed changes in the brain of a person listening to Beethoven or Elvis, this has a very complex stimulus power to affect the human body (para. 2). With that in mind music therapy is one of the major discussions which allows the use of music to address physical, psychological, cognitive, or social problems in the human brain and body (para. 3). This research is accepted as the role in modern medicine of today’s world for children and adults. Musical therapy is an adjunct treatment for everything such as strokes and various types of chronic pain to memory issues with dementia and neurological disorders (para. 4). Furthermore, music has the power to help in short-term goals and its use can help anxiety and pain, but most of all the uses patients before and after surgery which is administered to patients to help relieve nervousness of surgery that the patient is going through (para. 5). My personal experience with music allows pleasure and catharsis to come over the human body. Research discovers that there is no doubting music and that it truly does help confronting pain and anxiety, lifting you from depression, and repairs the physical and psychological problems in the human body. The value of music is supposed a natural source, found to be better and safer than any prescribed drug. Unlike new drugs or medical procedures, music does not need any government approval or clinical trials (para. 7). It is inexpensive and does not hurt even if it doesn’t help. However, if musical self-help isn’t working there are always chances that a primary care physician or health provided can provide advice as to where musical therapy is offered to the public (para. 8).

Music on the Human Stress Response

Music is suggested to be one of the most beneficial ways to help lower the impact of stress on the human body Brönnimann, R., Ehlert, U., Finkle, L., Marca, R., Nater, U., & Thoma, M., (2013). While these researchers carefully examined the effects of music on the human body, they found a very large gap of knowledge when it comes to understanding the full benefits of music to the human body. Researchers examined these effects across endocrine, autonomic, cognitive, and the emotional domains that impact on the human stress response in the body (para. 1). These results found that listening to music impacts the stress system, and can help the autonomic nervous system (para. 3). The researchers hypothesized that listening to relaxing music prior to a stress test, and then comparing it to rippling water and having rest without acoustic stimulation. Salivary cortisol, heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, had a lesser stress response across all measured parameters in the body (para. 3). When the music takes over the human body, it is a phenomenal effect, and is the most delectable and beneficial subject that effects the human body in a positive way (Para. 4). Oliver Sacks (2007) say’s “those who have motor disorders can use music to help calm the nerves and muscles when they are tensed up, jerking or ticking and jabbering” (para. 1). These results have found that the motor and emotional effects of music are visible, whereas the perception of music is internal allowing listeners to feel from their experience. The best part about music from my experience is that it can be given to patients without a prescription. Jane Collingwood (2013), studied the power of music and found that its soothing power has an established feel (para. 1). This is a unique example which provides that “listening to music can have a tremendous relaxing effect on our minds and bodies, especially slow, quiet classical music” (para. 2). There are many connections that build music from experience, and will provide the beneficial effects that our body needs to function. The developing answer to my research question on music and sound found in this study, is the beginning to developing a reason which will allow for greater discoveries throughout life. Listening to music can relax our bodies and minds, and can also be very important in the classroom when allowed for a number hours to take effect. With that being said, music can give anyone courage to take on the daily activities in life which are needed in order function as a society. The last section in this study describes musical therapy, and how it can relieve emotional distress while also boosting the overall quality of life in children and adults. Research that has been used for hundreds of years to treat illness, and “restore the harmony between the mind and body” (para. 8). Furthermore, music’s gives life a form, develops its structure, and can bring a sense of security to those who have disabilities (para. 9). Music listening is a growing experience with a growing value when used with headphones; this will allow a direct connection between the music, the ear canal, and the human brain. The benefit of headphones simply is the quickest way in avoiding distractions when trying to concentrate, its sensations can “release distress in the brain and pain in the body” (para. 9).

Effects of Sound in the Human Brain

Gae-Lynn Woods (2015) said, that “when sounds enter our ears it travels along the fine thin hairs that is transmitted to the auditory nerve, this is the part of the brain that processes sounds we hear in the growing world around us”. Throughout this process to the auditory cortex the process is then sent throughout the rest of the brain, and then the positive effects are felt throughout the rest of the human body (para. 1). This type of connection allows the perception of the growing world around us (Para. 3). Moving on in this section research found in the journal Pediatrics, “that babies who are born premature demonstrated an increased rate of weight gain when they were exposed to music by Mozart” (para. 2). This fact is truly remarkable that Mozart can affect premature babies in a positive way, and so discovery is led to believe that this research could also provide great nourishment for students Kindergarten through twelfth grade. The affects between music and sound “trigger the release of stress chemicals and impacts the neural pathways developing in the human brain” (para. 4). For example, “a mother’s voice is the first sound a baby hears, which contributes to the speech and language centers of the brain (para. 6).This type of development is the beginning of the neural pathways in a baby’s brain and concludes that “the more a baby is exposed to sound, the stronger these pathways become” (para. 7). Cheri Lucas (2015) says that “our memory boosts when listening to music, which gives understanding that music and sound creates a positive effect on our bodies and brains”. This research found that “music can stimulate, enhance, and improve the functions of our brain” (para. 1). This also means it’s a “great source of nutrition for elderly adults who suffer with Alzheimer’s and dementia” (para. 2). Music can do a lot for bodies, and if it’s this powerful then there should be no reason not to keep it in our schools. This literature review will provide the evidence that is needed to grasp an understanding of how important music should be developed in our schools. This review will provide the necessary details that will be used to develop a music program students will find to be extremely beneficial, and will experience the positive side-effects in music. This review will be the backbone to a developing music program at my local school, and will continue to offer students a place to be social.

Analysis

Research agrees that sound and music have a positive effect on the overall health of the human body, and there are many commonalities when it comes to music and sound on the human body. These commonalities on the health benefits of music should be the stepping stones to providing a successful music program of an hour and forty-five minutes or more every day during school, and students should be allowed this time so that they can experience the full health benefits of music. Lucas (2015) says “our memory boosts when listening to music”; so if music can boost our brain power when listened to, than it is extremely beneficial and important to play a musical instrument and will be that of the same effects if not more. Finally, music allows for the human body to express itself in numerous ways that can be extremely beneficial to the upscale of learning. Music can be used to benefit self-expression then it can be used in the classroom, in performance, and during free time on that open mic night. The idea is to examine research on the effects of sound on the human body, so that it can be used in longer duration to allow students to seek the benefits of music and its cause to produce a large social program.

Conclusion

How will my local school increase the amount of time and frequency in the music classroom? So it seems that the benefits described in this review are widespread, and is in detail that describes the positive effects of sound and music. Music can be used as medicine to help treat the physical and mental impairments in life. Music can be used on the breaking discovery to develop solutions on the human stress response. The biggest discover is that its effects on the brain are positive, and allows for the opportunity to increase its functions towards memory. The problem that has grown as a concern is; why my local school in Vermont does not allow for longer class time in music, so that the student can develop their sound and experience the positive health effects of music. In my final words the purpose of this research is so it can provide an example in the different effects music provides to the human body, and so this study will be the backbone for the development of a music program that will allow students in my local school experience first-hand the positive health effects to music, and will fill the gaps to understanding how sound effects the human body.

Demographic Data for the Proposed Project

Demographic Data

My research site will take place in a very small town located in the rural area of Southern Vermont, and will take place at the local municipal center. The people that will be involved in the study will our most respected senior citizens, ages 55 to 96, and will take place in study groups which will provide the local school information how music or sound impacts their bodies. This will also show the local music program the importance of music, and to encourage more students to sign up for band and chorus. I will also be directly involved in this research because I want to learn and understand from a senior citizens perspective how music and sound impacts their bodies. The data that will be collected from this study will be greatly related to the student population in the music program (and to increase music class from forty-five minutes to two hours and fifteen minutes) at the local middle and high school. This will also give a positive and clear understanding of how music and sound impacts our human bodies to proceed with daily activities in life and in school. Our most respected senior citizens will be our wise and noble teachers in this area because they have years’ worth of rich culture and history.

Target Group

The students who I feel I am trying to impacts are middle and high school students. Again our senior citizens in this study will be our wise and noble teachers, and our younger generations need to take example in learning from their elders. My study will have four different groups, each group will have a different activity that they will accomplish. Group one will listen to relaxing classical music, group two will listen to the sound of rain and rippling water, group three will improvise and create their own music, and group four will just sit in silence. After each group finishes they will answer a few questions anonymously, and complete a task to see how music and sound affected their thinking patterns and choices to complete the task. The focus of content is to help encourage more students to sign up for a music class at the local school, as well as provide example that music is a key important factor in school and that students can benefit from longer class times in music.

Baseline Data

It will take some time putting together a baseline data package which will show how music and sound affect the human body. How music lowers stress in the body, and how it can help students to increase their learning capacities. Taking data from our most heart filled senior citizens from the anonymous questionnaire and the task given will provide the younger generations an idea how they can use music in their life. (I will also be an observing this study so that I too can learn from each example, and how I can use this study to improve the way I teach music. The data collected will be used to discover senior citizens trends in taste of music. So it would be the wise and noble choice to ask both types of groups (seniors citizens, and middle/high school students) what type of music they enjoy the most in the questionnaire, but also include a compare and contrast in taste of music between senior citizens and the younger generations. When did their trends in taste of music change for them? In this area the proof relies on personal experience, that music and sound have different effects from person to person. The idea is to provide the up side to music and sound, where it can be positively used to increase the music classroom populations and allow for longer duration in music class. Clearly music and sound can be used to lower stress, help increase creativity, and it can also be used in general education to help students improve their grades and GPA’s. An example from my private music students describes how music lowers their stress before a final exam, and helps anxiety towards dealing with everyday factors in my student’s life in and out of school.

Proposed Action

Helping all Ages to Connect to Life and the World

This is by far one of the biggest solutions that will allow for some freedom, after all music and sound have a lot of freedom which is intended to bring creativity, innovation, and ability to follow their own intuition. Studies are showing that learning to play an instrument can bring significant improvements in anyone who has the heart and goals to be a part of music and sound (2014). This is the heart of my study and action research, because the studies show that learning to play an instrument can bring significant improvements to the human brain and will help anyone at any age connect to the fast growing world.

Continuing Efforts to Boost Memory with Learning Music

The second solution that would offer several opportunities to our elderly community, boosting memory is something that has been in the works now from many doctors because we do not know how the brain works, but there have been studies which can show use that “when we hear a familiar song, we are often able to recall a moment from our past that is connect to that tune” (2015). I can see how this works, and through my personal experience directing an elderly choir at my local Baptist church I have noticed that singing specific songs like traditional hymns can bring back memories of when they first heard the song and what they were doing when the song was playing. Studies have been shown that “Music has been found to stimulate parts of the brain, where it enhances the memory of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.” A study which was conducted at the UC Irvine showed that scores on memory tests of Alzheimer’s patients improved when they listened to classical music (2015).

Motivating the Elderly and Younger ages to be Creative, Learn Innovation and to follow their Intuition with Music.

Intuition is something that comes naturally from the very first step we took as an infant, and to automatically know that with one step comes another step. The beginning measures of human existence, and it doesn’t stop there. Since our first step in infant years, we learned other steps which took us from toddler years to teenage years and into our adult years. If we can pick up our intuition in steps, we can learn to be creative, learn innovation and follow that intuition with music. A creative musicianship class I took in my beginning years of college taught me to follow the intuition that strives inside, from the heart, connecting what I felt through my clarinet. If this class taught me how to follow my intuition with music from the heart and play what I felt through my clarinet, then this same intuition through music can be taught to help motivate elderly and younger ages to be creative in music. The study of renaissance for intuitive intelligence (2014) shows that “intuitive intelligence is an essential part of the human mind, which includes our conscious processes and unconscious processes—thought perception, emotion, will, memory, and imagination”. All of this involves being self-aware of the inner and outer world, and the connection there is between them. This solution is by far the most sensitive one, because it will show me that as we are humans sound is a natural affect to the human body. Sound is what our bodies make when we follow our intuition, for example: walk, talk, run, sing, eat, sleep, breath, and experience emotions. Sound can motivate the elderly, adulthood, young adults, and infant years.

Data Collection and Analysis Methods

Based on my research question, the effects of sound on the human body, I have chosen to survey my participants before and after the study. There will be six anonymous pre-survey questions and two post survey questions. The pre-survey questions will get a sense of understanding how music and sound is used in their daily activities, if they feel extreme enjoyment while listening to music, how music affects their mood, and to personally describe the feeling or emotions that the participants experience when they listen to music. The last two questions of the survey will be answered after the study, these questions will allow the participant to check how the study helped them and what did they learn. The pre and post survey/questionnaire will be used to generate a combination of qualitative and quantitative data for analysis. This survey/questionnaire will allow for the research to obtain information about participants’ way of thinking, feelings, and possible beliefs. This will allow the researcher freedom and power to tailor the questions so that they can address the research questions for this particular study. The data used will perform a quantitative analyses which will consist of descriptive statistics and correlations obtained from the survey results. The qualitative data that will be analyzed will specifically be looking for possible trends across the participants answers. There will be two themes that I would expect from this study. The first theme that I would expect to occur the most would be that the participants had spontaneously used music to regulate their mood. The second theme that I would expect to see least occur would be that music allowed the participants to be in contact with their feelings or helped them feel calm and relaxed. There would hopefully be a few other themes that I would be able to see arise from the study. These themes could possibly allow the participant a chance to enjoy the study and learn a lot about the benefits of music and sound, as well as the participant could possibly identify a range between one and thirteen of the emotions during the study in the last question in the Post Survey. Most importantly that there were a positive reinforcement of emotions that were the most frequently experienced in this study. Those positive emotions were happy, inspired, vibrant, proud, determined, and capable. The participant in this study discovered that music and sound have great benefits to the overall health in the human body.

Ideas for Sharing Findings

I have chosen to share my work with the Vermont Agency of Education, Vermont Governor, Local schools in Vermont and do a presentation on my research question. I also see sharing my work with elderly citizens, and do a mini session which includes many fun activities that enables creativity and discoveries with sound. I can also envision myself with this work on creating a music academy here in Southern Vermont, this will not only improve my practice but also impact younger children, teenagers and young adults. I want to create a place and environment that gives children and young adults a place to be creative in music but also explore their sound.

References

Brönnimann, R., Ehlert, U., Finkle, L., Marca, R., Nater, U., & Thoma, V., (2013). The effect of music on the human stress response. R. L. Newton (Ed). Published online 2013 Aug 5. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070156.

Cole, D. (2014). Your aging brain will be in better shape if you’ve take music lessons. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/01/140103-music-lessons-brain-aging-cognitive-neuroscience/.

Collingwood, J. (2013). The power of music to reduce stress. Psych Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-power-of-music-to-reduce-stress/.

Dwyer, M., & Tackett, I. (2003). Using music and art to reach language minority students. Retrieved fromhttp://gse.gmu.edu/assets/docs/lmtip/vol3/M.Dwyer_S.Tackett.pdf.

Goode, C. (2014). Intuitive intelligence comes of age. Retrieved from http://www.pregnancy.org/article/intuitive-intelligence-comes-age.

Hicks, G. (2014). How playing music affects the developing brain. Retrieved fromhttp://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/07/music-language-brain.

Lucas, C. (2015). Boost memory and learning with music. Education. PBS Parents. Retrieved fromhttp://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/boost-memory-and-learning-with-music/

Lee, M. (2015). What is music Therapy? Retrieved from http://www.altmd.com/Articles/What-is-Music-Therapy

Mozart, A. W. (1800). The overture Don Giovanni, K.527. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyjVCbTo5F0.

Novotney, A. (2013). Music as medicine. American Psychology Association. 44(10). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music.aspx.

Rossiter, M. (2013). Music as medicine.Retrieved from http://now.uiowa.edu/2013/05/music-medicine.

Sacks, O. (2007).The power of music. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2007/11/13/16110162/oliver-sacks-observes-the-mind-through-music.

Sound, S. (2014). Sound’s amazing power to heal and transform. Retrieved fromhttp://www.harmonyofthespheres.net/Science_of_Sound.html.

Wellness, B. (2014). Music as medicine. Retrieved from http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-mind/mind-body/article/music-medicine.

Woods, G. L. (2015). The effects of sound in the human brain. Retrieved fromhttp://www.livestrong.com/article/156262-the-effects-of-sound-in-the-human-brain/. _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Appendix

Cover Letter for Survey Date: Dear Participate: My name is Justin Gamache and I am a graduate student at Concordia University Portland, Oregon. For my final project, I am examining THE EFFECTS OF SOUND ON THE HUMAN BODY. I am inviting you to participate in this research study by completing an anonymous (before study begins) pre survey and post questions (after study is completed). If you choose to participate in this project, the pre survey and post questions will only take 5 minutes of your time to complete. There will be four groups in this study, the group that you chose to be a part of will only take 20 minutes of your time. Each group will take place at different times, to avoid distractions. After the study is completed, you will finish by answering the post questions. When you are complete with the questions, all surveys will be placed in the orange envelope on the table near the door as you leave the room. This survey is anonymous and the pre and post survey/questionnaire will be used to generate a combination of qualitative and quantitative data for analysis in developing a music program that can allow students to experience the effects of sound on the human body. Confidentiality will be enforced and that participating in this study will not affect a person’s employment in any way. I would like to thank you for taking the time to assist me in my educational endeavors. The data collected will provide useful information regarding THE EFFECTS OF SOUND ON THE HUMAN BODY. If you would like a summary copy of this study please complete and detach the Request for information form and place it in the white envelope that is attached to the survey. Completion and return of the pre survey and post question placed in the orange envelope by the door on your way out will indicate your willingness to participate in this study. If you would like additional information or have any questions, you can contact me at the number and email address listed below. Sincerely, Justin Gamache Phone: 802-423-5650 or email: jazztrio2014@myfairpoint.net————————————————————————————————————————————————————

(This request for information is an optional part of the cover letter and is not required for you to complete) Request for information: (do not return this form with your survey) Please send a copy of the study results to the address listed below. Name: Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pre-Survey – Music Therapy Post question

The Effects of Sound on the Human Body

Justin Gamache

Concordia University

On a scale of 1-5, please indicate your overall enjoyment of music in your life.

(Please circle one). 1 2 3 4 5 Almost Extreme enjoyment Not at all

Sometimes people use music to change their mood to help them feel a certain way (happy, sad, angry, etc.)
Do you regularly use music to help change your mood? (Please circle one)

Yes or No

If yes, please describe how music has affected your mood?
Music can often have a strong effect on our feelings and emotions; sometimes, quite unexpectedly. What feelings, if any, does music make you feel?

Loved Tired Respected Self-conscious Upset Vibrant Bored Capable Happy Confuse Proud Tense Inspired Sad Depressed Anxious Lonely Wide-awake Determined Indifferent

On a scale of 1 – 5, please indicate at what degree you experienced these emotions.

1 2 3 4 5 Minimal moderate high

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Please describe why you signed up for the group you did in my Effects of Sound on the Human Body study. The affects you think you will get and learn from this study?

(The last questions are to be answered after you have completed the study)

How do you think the session helped you? (check no more than two)
Helped me to do something enjoyable without the use of substance used for pain.
Helped me to learn about/understand myself better.
Helped me to feel part of the group.
Helped fill the time.
Helped me to understand that music and sound can be used therapeutically, and I will plan on doing more activities with music and sound.
I would attend more sessions like this in the near future because music and sound are glorious creations we all should be a part of.