Can music affect living beings?

A friend once called the brain the last frontier, and I think she’s right. While all DNA links have been identified, not all are understood; however, the brain is not yet fully identified.

For example, some scientists think that certain sound waves that mimic brain waves can increase creativity, intelligence, control pain, or alter psychological states. But the question remains. Can music and sound waves affect living things?

1. Yes. Using sound waves sounds crazy. We all listen to music and love it, but none of us claims that it can make us smarter. Or can? Studies have been done with children listening to Mozart and have conclusively shown that Mozart improves IQ even if only for 10 to 15 minutes. Children who listen to Mozart before taking a test tend to score better than those who do not have a musical introduction to the test.

two. Yes. Studies with music have also included animals. The right kind of music can make chickens lay more eggs, cows produce more milk, and even affect rats. The music was played on two rat boxes. The researchers played rock music on one box and on the other box the music was Bach. The rats had a tunnel between the two boxes so they could “vote” for the music of their choice. The rats went with Bach no matter which box they played it on.

3. Yes. Music affects even plants. A researcher in 1968 did an experiment to see the effects of music on plant growth. He used many musical styles, including classical, jazz, pop, rock, acid rock, East Indian, and country. Plants thrived on all types of music except rock and acid rock. Those plants withered and died. Did the plants respond to the music or just to the sound waves produced by each type of music? does it matter?

Music is made up of sound waves. These are traveling waves which are a pressure oscillation transmitted through the air. They are composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level loud enough to be heard. So it seems that even plants that don’t show obvious choice when it comes to sound waves respond to certain music in positive or negative ways. Non-human animals also make decisions. Even children respond positively to Mozart.

It would seem that sound waves and therefore music have effects on living things.