Music is everywhere. It accompanies us in all spheres of our lives. It grabs us and transports almost all of us, regardless of our culture, social status or personal history. “Music releases dopamine, this happiness hormone linked to our reward circuit,” explains Véronique Martel, a doctoral student in clinical neuropsychology at the Université de Montréal. “It gives us pleasure that can be similar to that linked to food or sex. Music is rewarding: it creates well-being and motivation.”

Scientists also agree that music can be effective in reducing stress, depending on our musical choices and preferences. "Relaxing music, for example, will allow us to synchronize our breathing to the slower tempo, which will have the effect of slightly lowering our heart rate," explains Ms. Martel, who works in the laboratory of Isabelle Peretz, a prominent researcher specializing in the study of the "musical brain."

These questions interested the scientific and medical journalist and physiologist by training Michel Rochon in his book Le Cerveau et la musique (Éd. MultiMondes). "What researchers have discovered by observing the brain is fantastic!", he says. When music enters our ear, it is not processed by a single area of the brain, but in about thirty different regions that decode the notes, the melody, the rhythm, the timbre, the harmony. When we add the song, the lyrics awaken, through the richness of the words, other regions of the brain."

Music at work: stimulating or distracting?

What about the role of music in our professional sphere? Is listening to music helpful or, on the contrary, distracting? "If our occupation demands a lot of cognitive resources in terms of attention, when we try to learn new information or write, for example, it could be that music harms our efficiency, especially if it contains lyrics."

Studies have shown that instrumental music or silence are therefore preferable when performing tasks that require a lot of attention. "On the other hand, instrumental music can help us concentrate, especially in a noisy environment. It's all a question of dosage, and this varies from one individual to another. It is then necessary to evaluate the intensity, duration and content of the music listened to and to adapt it according to the tasks to be performed. The type of music also comes into play: our favourite pieces are the most motivating, because they give us pleasure."

According to some studies, music also helps in learning languages. Not surprising since it is probably the mother of all languages, firmly believes Michel Rochon, himself a pianist. "Before even speaking, Man would have probably sung. Out of necessity, to go hunting, out of love, for war, for the harvests, he would have used his voice and rhythm to enter into a kind of social symbiosis, to establish rituals."

Listening is good, playing is even better!

If listening to music has verifiable effects on the brain, playing it would increase them tenfold. In her book Apprendre la musique (Ed. Odile Jacob), Isabelle Peretz suggests that practicing an instrument would have a protective effect on the brain. "Practicing music, even at an advanced age, would prevent the harmful effects of social isolation and improve mood and executive functions such as attention and planning," summarizes Véronique Martel.

“Playing music is excellent for our cognitive reserve,” adds Michel Rochon. “I invite people to be bold, to go to places they’ve never visited, to discover new music they’ve never heard. It’s good for your neurons!”

Want to add more music to your daily life? Download the piece of music selected by Danièle Henkel, in partnership with Orford Musique , here .