Your Brain On Classical Music (Better Mental Health)

Decreased cortisol, spiked dopamine, lower blood pressure.

Currently, I’m listening to Ludovico Einaudi on repeat. It’s relaxing, calming, and inspiring.

I’m relatively new to classical music — something I’ve come to as one of the many ways I manage anxiety.

Turns out, my attraction to classical music (often accompanied by candles and incense) is no mistake.

Classical music has been found to powerfully boost mental health. And while it's no cure-all, it’s a tool we all ought to know about.

What’s going on in the brain?

In 2013 professor Dr. Gordon Shaw discovered an increase in IQ in his students after they listened to Mozart for just ten minutes. While the impacts were only temporary, it did show exciting possibilities.

It’s since been discovered that classical music does have an impact on the brain.

Listening to classical music has been found to enhance the areas of the brain associated with dopamine secretion, learning, and memory. It’s also been shown to down-regulate the genes associated with stress.

Classical music for lower anxiety

One study, for example, looked at the impact of classical music on anxiety in university students. Classical music played every day for a 60-day period had a significant reduction in students’ anxiety and well-being scores.

The researchers noted:

The music we listen to can affect our inner world, our soul and our emotions: It can lead us to feel happy, creative and enthusiastic and to think positively and can treat mental illnesses caused by anxiety and stress.

Another study, which involved patients waiting for operations, found that listening to music generally was able to reduce preoperative anxiety. And classical music specifically had the greatest impact.

Reduced cortisol & blood pressure

It’s no secret that raised cortisol (stress hormone) and blood pressure levels are less than ideal. A study looked at the impact of relaxing music on human stress. Listening to music led to reduced cortisol levels in the research.

Further research noted reductions in blood pressure, subjective anxiety, and heart rate in relation to relaxing music. And it’s also been shown that classical music is associated with spikes in the feel-good hormone, dopamine.

A helpful tool in the toolbox

While these results are promising — music in and of itself is not a cure for mental health challenges.

Researchers have been quick to point out that the studies have been relatively limited.

But music may act as a helpful and exciting secondary therapy. If classical, or relaxing music, can play a powerful part, I believe it’s more than worthwhile.

Now, back to Ludovico.

Hi 👋, I’m Chloe.

I write here and on Substack about productivity, meditation, and mindfulness. Join my free email list.