by Lindsay Robinson, HIA Program Coordinator
This content originally appeared on BetterHearing.org, the website of the US-based Hearing Industries Association. It has been republished with their permission.
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For many, listening to a gentle rainstorm on a relaxing day can evoke a sense of calm. When a peaceful moment is broken by a loud car stereo or noise from an upstairs neighbor, frustration can occur. Perceiving sounds as “good” or “bad” may seem obvious, but the process of sound to our brains – and our perceptions of them – is actually quite complex.
Sounds keeping us safe
The sense of hearing exists to keep us safe.[1,2] Everyone jumps or gets startled when there is a sudden, unexpected loud sound nearby. In contrast, most people find the song of birds peaceful and comforting as it represents no immediate threat to our environment. Researchers have not yet been able to determine what level of sound intensity and frequency begins to incite fear, but they do know that the intensity of our emotional and physical response depends on how familiar our brains are with a sound and in determining where the sound might be coming from (“is that rattling coming from my car’s engine or is that just coins in my cupholder?”).[3] Emotional and physical reactions to sounds have saved countless lives by instantly turning on our natural fight or flight reaction. Even when we are in our deepest cycle of sleep, listening neurons in our brains are constantly “on” and are scanning our surroundings for sounds of danger to wake us, such as when a fire or security alarm sounds.
Music and emotion
Hearing also has a big impact on our positive emotions. Within the past decade, researchers have been studying the connection between music, emotion, heartrate and even body temperature.[4] It has been found that when we listen to music that we enjoy, our brains release dopamine, the chemical that produces the feeling of happiness, sometimes at the same rate of a drug high or eating our favorite food. Late physician Oliver Sacks, who studied the powerful impact of music in the brain, stated that music elicits “emotions and associations that had been long forgotten, giving the patient access once again to mood and memories, thoughts and worlds that had seemingly been completely lost.”[5] Music has been used as one of the most effective tools of therapy in mid- to late-stage dementia patients. It is thought that the music memory area of the brain remains unaffected by most forms of dementia and, when stimulated, reduces stress and negative behavioral symptoms of the disease.[6]
Sounds and our overall health
Our ability to hear provides one of the most important links to our emotions and surrounding environment, both in keeping us safe and also allowing us to enjoy music and other sounds that initiate positive physical reactions. Most of us know someone who has trouble hearing and are missing out on things they used to enjoy, as well as conversations with family and friends. Healthy hearing can increase feelings of social inclusion and reduce the risk of depression.[7] Protect your overall health by protecting your hearing. If you or someone you know has suspected hearing loss, don’t delay in finding help from a hearing health professional.
[1] Bradley, M. M., and Lang, P. J. (2000). Affective reactions to acoustic stimuli. Psychophysiology 37, 204–215. doi: 10.1111/1469-8986.3720204
[2] Juslin, P. N., and Västfjäll, D. (2008). Emotional responses to music: the need to consider underlying mechanisms. Behav. Brain Sci. 31, 559–575. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X08005293
[3] Tajadura-Jiménez, A. (2008). Embodied psychoacoustics: spatial and multisensory determinants of auditory-induced emotion (Ph.D. thesis). Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
[4] Itao, Kenichi & Komazawa, Makoto & Kobayashi, Hiroyuki. (2018). A Study into Blood Flow, Heart Rate Variability, and Body Surface Temperature While Listening to Music. Health. 10. 181-188. 10.4236/health.2018.102015.
[5] Kakutani, M. (2007, November 19). Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain – Oliver Sacks – Book Review. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/books/20kaku.html
[6] Graff-Radford, M.D., J. (2021, April 6). Can music help someone with Alzheimer’s? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/music-and-alzheimers/faq-20058173
[7] “NIDCD Researchers Find Strong Link between Hearing Loss and Depression in Adults.” National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 7 March 2014, www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/2014/nidcd-researchers-find-strong-link-between-hearing-loss-and-depression-adults.
