What kind of music helps you relax?

Maybe something classical?

How about this?

Different kinds of music can certainly alter how we feel or even how fast our heartbeats.

But what effect does music have on our brains or even our health?

In this episode, a neuropsychologist discusses how research is changing the way we understand the power of music.

I'm Audrey Hamilton, and this is Speaking of Psychology.

Music I'm Audrey Hamilton, and this is Speaking of Psychology. Psychologist Daniel Levedon is a professor of psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and music at McGill University in Montreal.

A former rock musician and studio producer, he now

studies the neuroscience of music and how music impacts our mental and physical health. He's also

the author of the best-selling book, This Is Your Brain on Music. Thank you for joining us, Dr. Levedon.

Thank you for having me. I don't think it's surprising to most people that music can impact us emotionally.

You know, music moves people. But when it comes to our health, such as pain management or stress,

how does music impact our brains? Can music even replace medicine in some situations?

Well, it depends on what you mean by medicine. Lots of things that we do affect our physiology.

Exercise does, and so we could say that exercise replaces medicine

when it has the desired outcome in terms of our physiology,

our mental and our physical physiology.

And we've seen evidence now that music can alter brain chemistry

and even the production of cytokines, immunoglobulin A,

and other components of the healthy immune system.

When we talk about music therapy and music interventions, you know, what's the difference?

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