Get Jazzy: The Surprising Cognitive Effects of Jazz Music
So far in this series, we’ve found out that mixing up your playlist can be of great benefit to your brain. In today’s post, we’ll be shining a light on the impressive benefits that jazz music can have on our brain health, our imagination, our mental state, and even within a therapeutic setting.
The brain function boost
Jazz is an inherently intricate music genre that involves a variety of complex harmonies, rhythms, and melodies. This encourages our brain to engage in what is known as ‘active listening.’ The stimulation involved in active listening boosts crucial cognitive processes, such as focus, memory, and executive function. In fact, studies have revealed that jazz musicians often have significantly enhanced neural connectivity, especially between brain hemispheres.
Learning how to improvise
The emphasis on improvisation is one of the hallmarks of jazz music, and it has fantastic benefits for the brain. This creative process stimulates the pre-frontal cortex, which controls problem-solving. Improvisation therefore promotes the formation of new neural connections and enhances cognitive flexibility.
How you feel
The body’s primary stress hormone, cortisol, is reduced when listening to jazz music. Certain tempos can even lower heart rate and blood pressure, leading to a relaxed state of being. Jazz can also promote the release of feel-good dopamine, helping to alleviate depressive and anxious symptoms. Not only that, but the expressive nature of jazz music gives musicians and listeners an outlet that can aid in the processing of emotions and emotional release.
Jazz as therapy
Did you know that jazz music is employed in a number of therapeutic applications?
Jazz within the music therapy world has been shown to benefit the rehabilitation of individuals with a variety of neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. How does this work? Cognitive engagement with the music serves to improvememory and executive function, whilst the rhythmic elements of jazz can advance coordination and motor function skills. This is often utilized within a specific technique known as RAS, or rhythmic auditory stimulation. Want to know what we’ve got coming up next time? Well, if you’re a pop or rock music fan, you’re in luck. There are brain benefits in there for you too! So, make sure you stick around to find out more!