When you hear the name “Sebastian Bach,” your mind might conjure two very different images: a powdered wig and Mass B in Minor on one hand, and wild hair and power ballads on the other hand. While both Bachs knew how to stir emotion, it was the original Johann Sebastian Bach — the Baroque master — whose music has been soothing souls for centuries. Science is now catching up to what listeners have long felt in their bones: classical music has a unique power to calm the nervous system, lift the mood, and even aid sleep.
The positive impact of classical music on mood has been demonstrated in numerous studies. In fact, there is an entire scientific journal called ‘Psychology of Music.’ In one of its recent publications, participants reported lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress after listening to classical songs. According to the Journal of Auditory Neuroscience, classical music synchronizes neural oscillations, improving mood in many patients with depression.
While there is no head banging in the walls of Saint Paul’s Cathedral, you might be surprised to learn that there lies within a team of researchers conducting experiments that utilize The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, who often play there. One of their studies showed that orchestral music enhances the mood of its listeners, even when they are under a great deal of stress. Similarly, an AARP survey (backed by the Global Council on Brain Health) reflected the significant impact of classical music on self-reported mental well-being, depression, and anxiety.
The Journal of Advanced Nursing published a study where adults who listened to 45 minutes of classical music before going to sleep reported having better sleep quality beginning on the very first night of listening. What is even more impressive is that this benefit seems to have a cumulative effect, meaning that the more often they incorporate music into their nightly routine, the better they sleep.
Classical music can also decrease the time required to fall asleep. In a study of women with insomnia, for ten days, participants played classical music when they got into bed. Music significantly shortened the time it took to fall asleep. To be specific, when the women did not listen to classical music, it took them between 27-69 minutes to fall asleep. However, when the women incorporated music into their nightly routine, the average time it took them to fall asleep went from 27-69 minutes down to only 6-13 minutes! The same study found that playing music before bed can improve sleep efficiency, meaning more time spent in bed was actually spent sleeping. The author stated “Improved sleep efficiency equals more consistent rest and less waking up during the night.”
Music taps into the power of human connection, which is a cornerstone of mental health and happiness. It has been suggested that melancholic music can mirror our emotions
of sorrow and loneliness, providing comfort through a shared experience of these feelings.
The attachment of memories to music is also a reflection of music’s inherent social nature. The neural pathways activated by music processing are very close to those of social processing (Nummenmaa et al., 2021). Music can trigger the release of endorphins and oxytocin, which promote social bonding and alleviate pain.
The therapeutic potential of music, particularly classical music, has been recognized and harnessed for centuries across various cultures. Musical shifts in harmony and tempo activate the brain’s reward system, flooding it with dopamine. Music also lights up almost the entire brain, including the hippocampus and amygdala, which activate emotional responses to music through memory; the limbic system, which governs pleasure, motivation, and reward; and the body’s motor system. Music also reduces cortisol, increases dopamine, and synchronizes brain waves between sensory and emotional processing centers in the brain.
Whether you are looking to improve your mental health or finally get a good night’s sleep, the curative properties of classical music are worth exploring….. And if you absolutely must listen to Metallica on your way home from work, might I suggest trying Apocalyptica, a Finnish group of cellists who are known for their covers of Metallica.
By: Krista Carpenter, MS, LPC
