Music Improves Thinking

According to recent research, music helps the human brain think more clearly, express itself more eloquently and even be able to memorize much more efficiently. Charles Emery, a clinical psychologist from Ohio State University, has discovered that music engages and stimulates the frontal lobe of the brain, resulting in better performance when exercising, thinking, or trying to memorize something.

Aware that many people listen to music when working out, he embarked in this research in an effort to to figure out if it had a substantial impact on the brain of people while performing various tasks or activities.

Along with the help of Pfizer, Inc., the pharmaceutical giant who manufactures Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in both name-brand Viagra and many Generic Viagra products out in the market -- Emery began to work on his research.

He conducted several trials involving 33 men a and women of different ages that had been participation extensively in cardiac rehabilitation programs. All the participants were tested first while exercising without any music, and then while listening to musical works. To his delight, he soon discovered that when they were listening to melody, the subjects thoughts were clearer and more focused than when exercising without listening to any musical work. They could also verbalize their thoughts more eloquently and were able to memorize things more efficiently than before.

Although he chose Vivaldi's “The Four Seasons,” he believes that any type musical genre, be it jazz, Rap, or even Pop will have the same positive results as listening to classical music. Previous studies conducted by other researchers have proven that music helped patients with lung disease concentrate better. The discovery was quite significant since cardiac disease tends to negatively affect the brain activity in cardiac patients.

Charles Emery went on to explain that music stimulates the front lobe of the brain, which is where higher mental functions are controlled, by engaging it in comprehending the music and having to discern the different sounds and instruments used in the music that is being listened to.