The Effects of Sound on the Human Body

A Research Report Presented to The Graduate Program in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Masters in Education

Concordia University - Portland - 2015

The Effects of Sound on the Human Body

Music and sound have 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 affects the human brain. Patients of music find it to be a reliever of stress, pain, anxiety issues, and can help get through cancer treatments. Research finds that students of music 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 of my life. So if music can be medicine to treat the mental impairments of depression, then why are prescriptions still being written for treatments? I say music is an evolutionary breakthrough, 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 are 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 impair them to speak or participate in other social activities help develops a healthy 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 is a growing number of a 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.

The 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). But can also be described by particular 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 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 indeed 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 provider can give 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 an enormous 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 influences the pressure that is put on the stress system, and can help the autonomic nervous system (para. 3). The researchers hypothesized that listening to relaxing music before 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 remarkable effect and is the most enjoyable and beneficial subject that affects 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 give 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). The study is a unique example which provides that "listening to music can have a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies, especially slow, quiet classical music" (para. 2). Many connections 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 of developing a reason which will allow for greater discoveries throughout life. Listening to music can relax our bodies and minds, and can also be imperative in the classroom when authorized for a number of hours to take effect. Music can give anyone courage to take on the daily activities in life to 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 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 an increasing 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 on the Human Brain

Gae-Lynn Woods (2015) said, that "when sounds enter our ears it travels along the fine, thin hairs which then transmit that sound 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-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 prematurely demonstrated an increased rate of weight gain when exposed to music by Mozart" (para. 2). This fact is remarkable that Mozart can affect premature babies in a positive way, and so discovery is led to believe that this research could also provide excellent nourishment for students Kindergarten through twelfth grade.

The effects of 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 child becomes exposed to sound, the stronger these pathways become" (para. 7).

Cheri Lucas (2015) says that "our memory boosts when listening to music, which gives an 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). It's a "great source of nutrition for elderly adults who suffer from 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 needs to develop in our schools. This study will provide the necessary details that will be used to establish 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 of 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 utilized 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 an extensive 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 utilized on the breaking discovery to develop solutions on the human stress response. The biggest discovery is that its effects on the brain are confident, 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 enable for a longer class time in music so that the student can develop their sound and experience the positive health effects of music. The purpose of this research is to provide an example of the different effects music provides to the human body, and become the backbone for the development of music education. The study on the consequences of music on the human body will allow students in my local school to experience first-hand the positive health effects of 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 subtle town located in the rural area of Southern Vermont, and will hold 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. The study also shows 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 impact their bodies. The data collected from this study will be significantly 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. But will also give a definite and clear understanding of how music and sound impact our human bodies to proceed with daily activities in life and 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 an 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 ripple water; group three will improvise and create their music, and group four will just sit in silence. After each team 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 fill out the work. The focus of the content is to help encourage more students to sign up for a music class at the local school, as well as provide an example that music is an important key 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 use this research to improve the way I teach music.

The data collected will be used to discover senior citizens trends in a 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 kind of music they enjoy the most in the questionnaire, but also include a compare and contrast in the taste of music between senior citizens and the younger generations. When did their trends in the 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 upside 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 increases 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 common factors in my student's life in and out of school.

Proposed Action Helping all Ages to Connect to Life and the World

This study will be by far one of the biggest solutions that will allow for some freedom after all music and sound have a lot of liberty which is intended to bring creativity, innovation, and ability to follow their 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). The core 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 would be boosting memory, and is something that has been in the works now by many doctors. 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 connected to that song" (2015). I can see how this works, and through my personal experience directing an elderly choir at my local Baptist church, I had 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 shown that "Music has been found to stimulate parts of the brain, where it enhances the memory of Alzheimer's and dementia patients." Another study conducted at the UC Irvine shown 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 measures 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 trained to help motivate elderly and younger ages to be creative in music. The study of the renaissance for intuitive intelligence (2014) shows that "inherent knowledge 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 effect to the human body.

The 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 music 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 are 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 issues 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 reasonable beliefs. The research and study 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 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 idea 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 arise from the study. These items could allow the participant a chance to enjoy the study and learn a lot about the benefits of

music and sound, as well as the member could 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 was a positive reinforcement of feelings 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 significant benefits to the overall health of the human body.

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 from http://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 from http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/07/music-language-brain.

Lucas, C. (2015). Boost memory and learning with music. Education. PBS Parents. Retrieved from http://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 from http://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 from http://www.livestrong.com/article/156262-the-effects-of-sound-in-the-human-brain/.