Dopamine is a chemical made in the brain. It is strongly linked to learning and memory.
Research has found that “when a subject listens to music that gives them the chills, it triggers a release of dopamine to the brain”.
Hearing a song from our teens and early twenties brings back a rush of memories and feelings. But why? Well, between the ages of 12 and 22 (aka our formative years!) we make strong brain connections. The huge flow of hormones produced at this time tells our brains that everything is super important – including whatever music we are listening to at the time. That’s why when we hear a true throwback to our teen days, it’s a powerful thing. This is also why listening to music from their youth can be so beneficial for people with Alzheimer’s. I speak to it in my article “Thank you, Ruby”. https://dramasanti.com/thank-you-ruby/.
A separate study found that people who intentionally listened to upbeat music improved their moods and happiness in just two weeks. My friend Debra sets her day up like this every morning. Before she’s even out of bed, she instructs Alexa to play her favourite playlist and dances around her room for ten minutes. She is one of the happiest people I know! Next time you’re feeling blue, just try putting on a song that lifts you. Let me know what happens!
Wishing you all health and happiness,
Dr. Maria
References:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-018-0246-y
https://neurohacker.com/what-is-dopamine
https://slate.com/technology/2014/08/musical-nostalgia-the-psychology-and-neuroscience-for-song-preference-and-the-reminiscence-bump.htmlhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17439760.2012.747000