New research reveals that even if someone hasn’t had formal music training, their brain still has areas that can recognize and respond to music. Imagine your brain as a musical detective – it can pick up on musical clues even if you are not a professional musician!
Scientists conducted this study using fancy brain scans (called fMRI) to peek inside the brains of young adults. They wanted to see how their brains react to different sounds, especially music.
In this study they invited two groups of people to participate:
Nonmusicians: These folks had little to no formal music training (less
than two years).
Musicians: These were the music pros – they’d been training for
around 16 years since they were kids.
Both groups listened to short music clips, as well as other sounds.
Then came the musical mystery: The music-selective parts of their brains (like secret music agents) responded strongly to both familiar and unfamiliar music. Even when the music was a bit strange or not what they were used to, their brains still perked up! So, listening to music – even casually – helps our brains become music experts.
What does that mean for parent’s?
Encourage your children to listen to different types of music. It is like giving their brains a workout! Whether it’s classical, rock, or even those funky rhythms, music is like brain food.
In our Music Minds classes we use the proven channel of music in every activity to stimulate the minds of our children as we do our lessons. We have learned that it increases their memory as well as participation. Let the tunes play – it’s good for their brain.