Thread by @dancingresearch

For #brainawarenessweek2020 @TIMBREgroup organised to have a public event called 'Music and Consciousness'

In the following series of tweets I'm going to highlight the cognitive processes involved in how music can be used for #painmanagement

#ScienceTwitter @ME_LabTweets

New sounds in our environment can grab our attention through the orienting response so listening to any music will help to distract your attention away from your immediate environment.

However, we know that music interventions are most effective WHEN PEOPLE CHOOSE THE MUSIC THEMSELVES. Choosing a piece of music is important because you will have specific reasons for choosing the music, which makes it easier to actively listen to and engage with.

As you actively listen you derive meaning from what you are listening to due to associations that you have with the music. Some people use music that reminds them of loved ones to bring a sense of social connection + comfort.

Other people use highly emotional music to help them to process the emotions that they are currently feeling. E.g. angry/sad/silly/joyful music, can all be used to reflect the individuals current emotional state, rather than trying to 'cheer them up'.

A minority of individuals choose to listen to classical music and get great pleasure from the mathematical perfection of the performance. However, most people tend to choose popular music as it is more familiar to them, and so for them it has more meaning.

A minority of individuals choose to listen to classical music and get great pleasure from the mathematical perfection of the performance. However, most people tend to choose popular music as it is more familiar to them, and so for them it has more meaning.

When we enjoy music the reward systems in our brain become more active which can lead to increased release of endorphins and endogenous opioids, and this competes with the activity in the neural network responsible for pain.

The reward of music listening acts as an incentive for you to continue to listen and effortlessly maintain active engagement, until you become absorbed in the musical experience.

Your brain integrates the music into the forefront of your consciousness, not just as an additional sensory component, but as an entirely absorbing phenomenological experience on a cognitive and emotional level. This makes it more difficult for us to be aware of our pain/distress

Also, as a result of this meaningful, rewarding, absorbing music listening experience people experience increases in self-efficacy + strengthened sense of self.

Increases in self-efficacy can help to make us feel more motivated and provide the cognitive energy required to engage more fully in everyday activities that are important in times of pain or distress.

Equally by providing a way to emotionally unload or de-stress, some people may find it easier to relax which also helps to restore our cognitive energy indirectly.

You can use different music to increase activity or relax.

Either way, this can help to retore our Cognitive Vitality and helps to promote a vigilant coping style in a flexible manner that is appropriate to the type of distress being experienced.

So there you have it folks!

In the current circumstances it seems that many of us might need some help to keep active, to wind down, or to actually process some of the thoughts and feelings we are having in response to the coronavirus.

Consider making music listening part of your new routine for 20-30 mins a day...

My own favourite song to listen to this week is Micheal Kiwanuka - One more night



For added immersion, watch music videos or look up the lyrics on google + sing along :)