The music hits differently when there’s no interruption of the human voice. Just pure instruments flowing rhythmically, making the heart glad or be at ease.
Music, especially in its pure state can be a source of pleasure and contentment and research has proven that their are some psychological benefits as well. The notion that music can influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise. If you’ve ever felt pumped up while listening to your favourite fast-paced rock anthem or been moved to tears by a solemn live performance, then you easily understand the power of music to impact moods and even inspire action.
So, what other potential benefits can listening to instrumentals provide?
Improve Cognitive Performance?
Research suggests that background music, or music that is played while the listener is primarily focused on another activity, can improve performance on cognitive tasks in older adults. Specifically, one study found that playing more upbeat music led to improvements in processing speed while both upbeat and downbeat music led to benefits in memory.
Stress Reduction:
It has long been suggested that instrumental music can help reduce or manage stress. Think of why the whole meditative industry is centred on meditative music created to soothe the mind and induce relaxation.
To Help You Eat Less:
One of the most surprising psychological benefits of listening to instrumental music is that it might be a helpful weight-loss tool. If you are trying to lose weight, listening to mellow music and dimming the lights might help you achieve your goals.
You might try putting this into practice by playing soft music at home while you eat dinner. By creating a relaxing setting, you may be more likely to eat slowly and, therefore, feel fuller sooner.
Memory Improvement:
Lots of students enjoy listening to music while studying. Although there are arguments about whether this is a good idea, one research suggests that it may help, but it depends upon a variety of factors which might include the type of music, the listener’s enjoyment of that music, and even how musically well-trained the listener may be.
One study found that students who listen to instrumentals tended to perform better on learning tests but do not perform so well when they listened to music with a human voice as it was very distracting and hard to ignore.
Help in Managing Pain:
Research has shown that instrumental music can be very helpful in the management of pain. One 2015 study of fibromyalgia patients found that those who listened to music for just one hour a day experienced a significant reduction in pain compared to those in a control group. Such results suggest that music therapy could be an important tool in the treatment of chronic pain.
So, the next time you are working on a task, or want to get your mind off stressful matters, consider turning on a piece of instrumental music in the background.
Do you have any question or comment? Do share with us in the comment section.
