Music is medicine. It has the power to heal us. And today’s guest knows it’s
something we can self-prescribe, for free, whenever we want to benefit.
Dr Daniel Levitin is a neuroscientist, cognitive psychologist and bestselling
author. He’s also a former record producer and an accomplished musician who’s brought all those skills together in his latest book, Music As Medicine: How We Can Harness Its Therapeutic Power. As soon as I heard about it, I had to ask Dan onto the podcast to share his wisdom.
As a lifelong musician and music fan, I know certain tracks change how I feel. But talking to Dan has opened my mind to just how profound an effect music has on the brain. It doesn’t just shift our mood, it can affect our entire physiology.
Dan has spent decades studying this, advising the US Government and working with the National Institutes of Health, to the point where his research is now influencing global health policy. We’ve all experienced the health-giving power of music, perhaps without realising. Now with that knowledge, and Dan’s insights, we can start to put it to therapeutic use.
Here’s what fascinates me the most: music doesn’t just hit one part of your brain. Different types activate different regions, in much the same way as certain medications work. And Dan shares some astounding examples of this – from the people with Parkinson’s who relearn to walk, to the marathon runners who don’t feel pain, to the Alzheimer’s patients who can’t recognise loved ones, but can recall how to play an instrument perfectly. The brain regions that process music are deeper, older and more protected. It’s why music communicates emotion in ways that words can’t always match.
Throughout our conversation, Dan makes this case that music is our birthright. And it can flood us with feelgood, bonding hormones. So it’s a tool we can turn to for overcoming trauma, processing difficult feelings, or connecting with others. But he doesn’t just want us to listen. Playing an instrument, singing and songwriting all do more than you might expect – and you don’t need to be an expert.
The next time I’m strumming my guitar, I won’t just think of it as a hobby. I’ll
know I’m doing something profoundly important for my health. And you can too. Whether it’s learning an instrument, having a family singalong in the car, or simply switching on the radio, I’m not sure there’s a simpler, more effective way to feel better.
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Actionable Insights
1. Use Music for Parkinson’s Gait
For Parkinson’s patients, listen to music with a tempo matching walking speed to activate spared brain regions and synchronize movement. Consistent rhythmic auditory stimulation (20 mins/day for weeks) can build supplementary circuits, reducing the need for music to walk.
2. Develop a Personal Healing Playlist
Create a playlist of your favorite songs, especially from ages 11-18, and attach it to an advanced medical directive. This music can help rehabilitate or re-activate individuals in comas or experiencing cognitive decline, leveraging powerful memory recall.
3. Learn or Play an Instrument
Start learning an instrument or continue playing one if you already do, as it’s never too late (even in your 70s/80s). This practice builds cognitive and motor reserve, improving eye-hand coordination and attention, which is neuroprotective and can mask symptoms of cognitive decline.
4. Address Music Deficiency
Actively bring more music into your daily life, as many people have a ‘deficiency’ compared to historical human practices. Correcting this can lead to various benefits for overall well-being and emotional health.
5. Relieve Pain with Liked Music
Listen to music you genuinely enjoy to help alleviate pain. This practice stimulates the brain to produce endogenous mu-opioids, which are natural analgesics.
6. Evoke Optimism with Youth Music
Revisit and listen to music from your youth, particularly from ages 11 to 18, to tap into powerful emotional memories. This can evoke a sense of boundless optimism and the feeling that ‘I can do anything.’
7. Heal Trauma Through Songwriting
Engage in songwriting about traumatic or emotional experiences, either individually or by collaborating with a songwriter. This process externalizes the experience, making it more objective and therapeutic, similar to journaling but with added structure and memorability.
8. Journal for Self-Discovery
Regularly write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal. This act of discovery helps you uncover unknown aspects of yourself and better understand your emotions, serving as a beneficial practice for mental well-being.
9. Find Comfort in Sad Music
When feeling low or depressed, choose to listen to sad songs that resonate with your current emotional state. This can provide a sense of recognition and understanding, making you feel less alone and potentially uplifting your mood.
10. Sing Along More Often
Incorporate more singing into your life, whether by singing along to music you like or simply singing in the shower. You don’t need a ‘great voice’ to benefit from this engaging musical activity.
11. Integrate Art into Environment
Place art, such as paintings, in prominent locations in your home or office where you cannot miss it, and make a conscious effort to experience it. This practice, along with using wireless sound systems for continuous music, can transport you and evoke a sense of awe, helping to combat a productivity-oriented mindset.
12. Seek Live Collective Music
Attend live music concerts and other collective experiences to benefit from shared social bonding and the release of oxytocin. The live element also offers the excitement of unpredictability and a unique connection to the artist and community.