b'therapists, along with physicians (particularly moveinaregular,andmoreproductivethose specializing in neurology, immunology, manner.Allformsofmobility,whetheroncology, and psychiatry), have contributed standing, walking, propelling a wheelchair,to the research in music and its distinct power adjusting posture, moving limbs, manipulatingto change our biochemistry and sense of being hands-ngersall can be supported by yourin the world. Lets take a look.careful selection of the musics tempo. Thats entrainnmmeenntt ManipulatinganymusicalinstrumentThats entraiWhats actually happening when you listen helps to retain or retrain your brains abilityto music? Quite a lot, actually. MRI scans of to manage tasks that require individual andmusic-enhanced brains show how multiple integrated limb, hand, and nger skills. Noregions of the brain simultaneously light up, previous experience is required. Just strumincluding the parts that decode emotional a guitar, tap a drum head, shake maracas,information, learn and remember, perceive noodlearoundonthepianoandyouwillsound, and manage coordination. Its like a boost your abilities to complete chores, dinemulti-vitamin for the brain. andprimp,text,channelsurf,andotherListening to preferred music stimulates takin care of business tasks. the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. Singing is a physical act that reaps healthWithin 30 seconds, you can start to manage benets all its own. Proper singing involvesdiscomfort by spurring the release of your deep breathingfull exion and extensionfeel-good hormonesendorphins, dopamine, of the respiratory musclesand controlled,and serotoninwhile decreasing the stress steady airow during exhalation. Thus, thehormonecortisol,simplybylisteningto appropriate singing exercises can improvemusic. All this happens without the listener respiratory endurance, breath, and volumemoving a single muscle.control and overall lung health. The act ofsinging utilizes a dierent neural pathwayThats not to say the listeners body isnt than does the act of speaking. So, if you havegetting involved. In fact, music with a strong incurred speech complications because ofbeat actually primes the body for movement. injury, disease, medications, or a treatmentThats because the brains circuitry senses a regimen, your ability to use speech can berepetitive, steady rhythm and can actually rerouted to the brains singing center instead.predict the next beat. The motor cortex can Not only does singing provide a means tothen enact muscle movements that coincide regainspokenwordsandphrases,butitwith the beat. This is called entrainment.sustains and rebuilds word retrieval, clarityThetempo(orspeed)inanypieceof andinection,andevenimprovesfacialmusic is the principal organizer that makes muscle tone. music its most powerful. Pulse is what your MMnneemmoonniiccssaannddmmiinnddffuullnneessssbrain and body require to move, breathe, direct How many of us learned our ABCs by singingyour attention, and keep a focus. By slowing the Alphabet Song? Its a great example ofor speeding up the pulse of the music you what is called musical mnemonics. Thesepair with specic tasks, you will signal your are musical exercises in the form of songs,brainscircuitryandactivate yourbodyto rhymes, or chants that encode themselves in53 msfocusmagazine.org'