These are truly stressful times and we have to develop mechanisms to deal with the current climate. Music can be that stress reliever that helps us cope with fear, anger, adversity and despair. The benefits of hearing and playing music has been well documented. Music has the power to calm, to excite, to make us happy.

When we hear music that we find enjoyable, the brain releases the chemical dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter meaning that the body produces dopamine and our nervous system uses it to transmit messages.  Dopamine is critical in affecting how humans think, process and behave.  

So what are the effects of dopamine? It is involved in regulating our motivation, memory, reward and even how our body moves. It also helps our cognitive skills and our ability to focus on a task and get things done. Think about when we exercise, we listen to music and it enables us to get through our grueling workout.  That next song on the playlist will get you through that last mile, or one more set. This is because the body is releasing dopamine both from the music and the workout.  Same can be said if you are a musician playing the music. Movement in your body as you listen to the sounds emanating from the instrument.   

When dopamine is released in large amounts it gives us a pleasurable feeling and enables us to repeat a task.   A definition of the slang word “dope” in late 1800’s referred to drugs used to cause huge and fast increases of dopamine in our brain. But today, rappers and hip-hop musicians reclaimed the word to mean excellent.

So on a few levels, “music is dope” and can be an excellent way to help us function better during these stressful times.

Learning to play an instrument and listening to music that one finds enjoyable can help release the right levels of dopamine.

What kinds of music do you listen to lift your mood? Reply in the comments below.