Music
Image by Dominik Scythe on Unsplash
Recently, I listened to a podcast that reported the benefits of using music to treat cognitive problems - such as “chemo brain” - associated with cancer treatment. It was a small study lasting eight weeks, and the researchers were initially attempting to prove beneficial effects of meditation for the participants. The music part of the study came about because they needed a control group; half the participants needed to listen to something instead of the guided meditation so the researchers would have something with which to compare the results.
Interestingly, they found that the music group had positive results comparable to those in the meditation group. I also found it fascinating how much time each group spent on this study - only twelve minutes per day.
I’m not here to give an in-depth look into the research, or even into the concept of music therapy. It did cause me to stop and think about the role music can play in our lives. Lullabies soothe children to sleep. A driving beat can encourage us in exercise programs. Sad songs can result in a good cry - especially if you’ve been needing one! Old songs can stir up fond memories of loved ones. Happy music can make us want to dance.
The music used in the study was classical, but the researcher also noted that it didn’t necessarily need to be; it’s possible that jazz or modern electronic music can have the same effect. The music should not have lyrics and not just be an instrumental version of a song that you would be unconsciously singing the words inside your head. It also should be music to which you would enjoy listening; this won’t work if the music itself is adding to your stress levels!
Whether you are a cancer survivor or not, I want to encourage you to try your own experiment. Try sitting and listening to music that fits the above guidelines for twelve minutes a day, and see what happens. You don’t need specialized equipment - if you are reading this on a computer or smartphone, you already have the tools. Libraries are another source of music - yes, libraries still carry CDs if you have equipment on which to play them.
After trying this for a while, I would be interested to hear if you felt these 12-minute sessions made a difference for you. I welcome your comments below.
Happy listening!