The musical wiring in the human being runs deep.
A bone flute found by archeologists and dated to 37,000 years old is believed to predate our use of language.
Predate our use of language!
We had music before we could even speak to each other with words.
Music and special types of sound are actually nutrients or food for the nervous system.
Music – and sound – has direct access to the brain through our ears and auditory system. However, there is also a secondary path that music follows – directly to the movement centre in the back of the brain.
That’s why we just can’t resist tapping our feet or moving or dancing when we are carried away by music with a lively beat.
It has been found that playing music activates more of the brain than any other activity we do. And that playing music, and even listening to music, releases a neural cocktail of hormones that affect the entire body.
And what I call ‘playing music’ can be performing Bach on the piano or playing air guitar to your favorite rock piece!
In his book, “The World in Six Songs,” neuroscientist Daniel Levitin describes the neurochemical response of the brain to music:
“In a sort of neurochemical dance, music increases our alertness through modulation of norepinephrine and epinephrine and taps into our motor response system through cortisol production, all the while bolstering our immune system through music modulation of IgA, serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, adrenocoticotropic hormone (ACTH), and B-endorphin (B-EP).” (p.101)
In addition to this, when we play music together, the neurohormone oxytocin is released. Oxytocin is often described as the bonding hormone.
And all of this physical response in the brain is only part of the extensive wiring human beings have for music. The entire human body responds to sound because sound travels through us. Our bodies are wonderful conductors for sound.
And there are multiple levels of response at the emotional and energetic levels.
Wow! It’s no wonder the human species has had a love affair with music and sound since we have existed on this planet. And that we had music before we had language.