Everyone acknowledges that music can be soothing and healing. But few understand the science behind why music can be theraputic.

1. W H Y D O E S M U S I C
T H E R A P Y W O R K ?
B I L LY M A C A G N O N E P R E S E N T S :

2. I T ’ S C O M M O N K N O W L E D G E T H AT M U S I C C A N B E
I N C R E D I B LY H E A L I N G .
!
B U T, I T ’ S V E RY R A R E T H AT P E O P L E A C T U A L LY G E T T O
K N O W T H E S C I E N C E B E H I N D M U S I C ’ S T H E R A P E U T I C
P R O P E R T I E S

3. B O D I E S R E S P O N D
P H Y S I O L O G I C A L LY
T O M U S I C
• Listening to music can
cause increased heart
rates, quickened breath,
and cause shivers
• Music can been used to
provoke the brains of those
in comas
• Deep tension and anxiety
can be quelled with specific
music

4. O U R B R A I N S S TA R T
P R O C E S S I N G M U S I C A S
S O O N A S W E ’ R E B O R N
• Upon birth, infants can
immediately start to
decipher musical patterns
and rhythms
• A study by JAMA
Pediatrics found music
could reduce stress & pain
in pediatric patients

5. M U S I C O P T I M I Z E S
T H E B R A I N
• Music can stimulate, access, and
be processed by every part of the
brain.
• Music therapy improves cognitive
and motor specific tasks when
“regular” therapy isn’t enough
• A study by the Center for
Biomedical Research in Music in
Colorado found that 30 minutes
of music provided a reduction in
anxiety and depression in
patients with traumatic brain
injuries
Image courtesy of dierk schaefer on Flickr

6. B I L LY M A C A G N O N E . O R G