Stating that the rhythm in the human brain speeds up or slows down with music, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan made evaluations on the topic of music therapy within the scope of June 21 World Music Day. Tarhan, who mentioned that humans encounter music as soon as they are born and that the universe actually works like an orchestra, stated: “There is music throughout the universe. Therefore, there is no human psychology independent of music. Music habits have a great impact on a person's psychological alertness, the vitality of their spiritual memory and attention, and the increase in learning speed,” he said and pointed out that if music is used for good purposes, it will positively affect mood, but if used for bad purposes, it can increase feelings of anger and depression.
“Music used for bad purposes increases feelings of depression”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan made evaluations on the effect of music on the brain and its reflections on psychology for June 21 World Music Day.
The effects of music vary from person to person
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the concept defined as music is the way the brain perceives sound, and said, “The quartz crystals in the inner ear convert sound energy into electrical energy. Electrical energy is also perceived and interpreted around the jelly in the brain. In this way, a person assigns meaning to music according to their culture and psychological background. Thus, music creates a positive or negative effect on the person. Therefore, music has effects that vary from person to person.”
Our brain dances along with music
Tarhan stated that measurements show the rhythm in the human brain speeds up or slows down with music, and said, “Fast, slow, rising, falling rhythms affect a person's nervous system. Our brain perceives these electrical messages and converts them into chemical messages. Our brain actually dances along with music. Fast rhythms, slow rhythms, rising, falling rhythms… According to all these rhythms, music affects the autonomic nervous system through the brain in a person. The brain secretes stress hormones according to the effect of music. Parasympathetic sounds come into play, and our nervous system enters a fight or flight response. If it enters a fight response, the shoulder, neck, waist, and back muscles contract, vascular resistance increases, and blood pressure rises. Our pupils dilate, and we focus on war and danger. When the rhythm changes, music activates a second parasympathetic system. It activates the body's longest nerve, the vagus, by giving messages like ‘The danger has passed, relax, calm down, you are at peace now,’ and relaxes the brain. Neurobiological research also confirms that music acts as a serious tool in the slowing down, speeding up, relaxation, and entering a state of readiness for conflict of our autonomic nervous system.”
The positive or negative effect of music is related to the meaning the person assigns to it…
Tarhan stated that the positive and negative effects of music on a person are related to the meaning the person assigns to the music, and said, “After heavy music like heavy metal comes, the brain activates five types of chemicals we call the five horsemen of darkness. Dangerous emotions such as resentment, anger, hatred, jealousy, and hostility are activated, and pleasure is actually derived from them. That is, people turn up the volume to reach pleasure. There is a temporary excitement in the person, and a message of war goes to the brain. Along with this, stress hormones are triggered. If it is short-term, it does not pose a danger, but if it is long-term, damage to the person's organs begins.”
Tarhan added that short-term exposure provides instant excitement and pleasure to the person, and said that such music causes serious addiction in individuals, continuing as follows:
“If music is used for good purposes, it positively affects a person's mood. If used for bad purposes, it can cause addiction, similar to substance addiction. It increases feelings of anger and depression in a person, and can induce a desire to die. Here, it is not necessary to question the music itself. Because there are culture-specific differences. The positive or negative effect of music is related to the meaning the person assigns to this music.”
If moods can be turned into a musical beauty, music will resonate with people
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the most beneficial music for a person's mood is programmed music, and said, “Music contains emotions such as pain, joy, enthusiasm, and passion in a person's mood. If all these moods can be transformed into a musical beauty, music will resonate with people. Not everyone can achieve this. Transforming pain into a musical beauty is related to the artistic aspect of the work. There are very significant influences in cultures related to nature. The influence of that culture regarding respect for nature is visible throughout Central Asia, all the way to China. This has also been reflected in music. The most beneficial music for a person's mood is programmed music. For example, the Janissary march and water music containing water sounds are programmed music. They activate specific areas in the brain. They have a certain purpose. If a composition is made with thoughts like ‘I want to provide muscle relaxation, a state of well-being, a state of tranquility, I want to evoke a sense of eternity in the person,’ then the emotion can be transformed into a beautiful musical piece. Because Central Asian music is in harmony with nature, these elements have been used extensively. Water sounds and reflections of other living beings' sounds have been used. All these are things that are good for a person's mood.”
Everything in harmony with nature is also in harmony with the soul
“If music is in harmony with nature, it is also in harmony with our soul,” said Tarhan, adding, “Things that are close to nature and good for it are also good for the soul. Everything that is in harmony with nature is also in harmony with the soul. Music that is in harmony with nature is also beneficial. It can also be called organic music. Music from Central Asian culture is actually completely organic music, polyphonic. It is the transformation of nature into musical beauty. It is the processing of natural sounds like an orchestra,” and added that if natural rhythms could be converted into musical notes, they could have a global impact.
Those with musical intelligence can use music for learning
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that there is music throughout the universe and that there is no human psychology independent of music, and said, “Music therapy is currently considered like complementary medicine. With the digital age, in the future, the neural correlates of music in the brain may be found more clearly. When they are found, we will be able to reveal the positive effects of music on humans.”
Tarhan concluded his words by stating that humans encounter music as soon as they are born:
“The universe works like an orchestra; there is music throughout the universe. Therefore, there is no human psychology independent of music. Music habits are very effective in a person's psychological alertness, the vitality of their spiritual memory and attention, and the increase in learning speed. In fact, a type of intelligence called musical intelligence is mentioned. Gardner, who discovered multiple intelligences, identified 8 areas of intelligence. One of these is musical intelligence. In individuals with musical intelligence, the brain works better in musical environments. We don't tell these people ‘you absolutely must be a musician.’ We say, ‘Use music to improve your learning.’ Study with the music that increases your attention and opens your mind, do the work you care about with that music. In such individuals, music enlivens the feeling of flow. The feeling of flow is such that, as Einstein said, when you get caught up in that feeling of flow, you forget to eat.” DOI number: