How Music Heals Memory

Recent studies performed on music and cognition have revealed that learning to read and play music increases verbal memory. Scientists have also discovered that music stimulates the production of neurotrophic proteins in the brains of animals exposed to music. These proteins play important roles in regulating the development of neurons and in preventing neuronal death. Furthermore, mice that are exposed to music show significant improvement in their ability to learn certain positive behaviors.

It is likely that neurotrophic proteins homologous to those identified in animals are released in the human brain in response to listening to music and to learning to read and play music. The affects of such proteins would be especially evident in young children because the brain is highly receptive to cognitive stimuli in the early stages of development. However, learning is a life-long process. The benefits of the frenzy of neurological activity in infants and young children who are exposed to music or other cognitive stimuli are not necessarily permanent. The neural pathways of music may be formed at an early age, but if a child loses interest in music or stops listening to or playing music, the pathways, over time, will weaken.