How Music Travels to Your Brain
- First, the sound waves travel through the air.
- Next, the outer ear collects the sounds.
- Then the middle ear sends the sound waves to the inner ear, where they cause the eardrums, small hairs and bones to vibrate.
- This creates nerve signals that the brain understands. The brain changes this energy into electrical energy and sends the impulse to the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that controls thought, perception and memory.
- From there the cerebral cortex sends the impulses to the response centers of the brain that control emotion, anxiety, pleasure, arousal and creativity.
- Next in line is the hypothalamus, a tiny area deep in the brain that controls many autonomic functions, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, body temperature, and the nerves to the skin and stomach.
- Finally, your cortisol, the stress hormone, drops and your DHEA and dopamine (romantic and happy chemicals) go up. The pheromones (sex hormones) kick in.
All of this happens in less than a second, just because you chose to put on some music that you enjoy. Learn more about the power of music with my book, Music, Healing and Harmony.
Music, Healing and Harmony: Sally Fletcher: 9780961551308: Amazon.com: Books