Your Body On... Music

Music activates different regions of the brain simultaneously. One of those regions is the brain’s reward center, which releases a feel-good chemical called dopamine when you listen to music.

When your jam comes on, vibrations from the speakers travel into the ear canal, where they stimulate tiny, hair-like nerve endings and produce an electrical signal. That signal travels to the brain, where it’s processed as music.

Music can boost endurance and help you use oxygen more efficiently. In one study, cyclists who peddled to upbeat music used 7 percent less oxygen than a group that didn’t. 

The same part of the brain that processes music also regulates breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. That’s why fast music can make your heart pound, and slow music can make you feel super mellow.

Listening to music that makes you feel calm can lower the body’s level of the stress hormone cortisol. Lowering your cortisol levels can boost your body’s ability to fight infections.