01/08/2026
Endovascular neurosurgeon Farah Fourcand, MD, explains all the ways music impacts your brain and how it can actually help heal your brain, too.
Music impacts nearly every part of your brain, including:
-Your limbic system, which contains your hypothalamus, amygdala and hippocampus. When activated, this area of your brain helps regulate your emotional response to music.
-Your cerebral cortex (or gray matter) houses your motor cortex, which, when activated, this area triggers your body to dance and move to the rhythm of music.
Music activates parts of your brain that help:
-Preserve and improve memory
-Enhance creativity
-Improve attention, focus and concentration
-Decrease reaction time
-Improve spatial reasoning (the ability to mentally visualize or imagine 2D and 3D objects)
-Promote brain development in children and adults
Music also has many physical benefits. It can:
-Decrease cortisol levels
-Lower heart rate and blood pressure
-Motivate your body to move
-Create new neural connections and increase neuroplasticity
Performing music has its own benefits, too. It can help:
-Improve hand-eye coordination
-Develop motor skills
-Promote brain connectivity and enhance cognitive potential
You may want to explore different musical genres or test out what kind of music works best for you. There may also be times when silence is needed. But at the end of the day, music will always be there to inspire you and bring a little rhythm to your life.
“Music brings people together,” says Dr. Fourcand. “So much of what we do when we celebrate life is centered around music and dance.”
