Music as a background score of our lives: Music is unknowingly an integral part of our day-to-day life. When we are sad we listen to music, when we are happy we listen to music, when we are working we may need music, when we are exercising we need music. It is almost like we need a background score for our lives. There is music in our kitchens, there is music in traffic, there is music in our speech.
Music within the body: Moreover, our heart beats at a fixed pace producing the sounds ‘lub-dub’, our blood gushes through our vessels producing sounds, our intestines push food through peristalsis which in turn produces sound, the breath in and out of our lungs is again, sound! So if there is music within us, does the music outside harmonise with the music inside? Does our heart beat or dance to the beats it hears?
Music and heart beats: There have been a number of studies proving the positive effects of music on the human body, especially in relation to heart rate. There have been studies proving that the heart rate is higher when it listens to exciting music. While a music with tempo of around 60-80 bpm relaxes the body, heart and mind. Heart rate tends to increase in response to music as compared to silence.
The taste in music matters as well! Heart rate was found to decrease in response to unpleasant music compared to pleasant music.
There have also been trials to develop personalised playlists depending on a person’s heart rate.
Isn’t it interesting! What other effects does music have on our bodies according to you?
MBH/PS