The answer is yes!
But how?
In 2013 a study, researchers supported the common concept that music has a positive effect on stress and immune system function. Furthermore, this study suggests that music affects Immunoglobulin A (IgA) the most.
According to John Hopkins Medicine Immunoglobulin A “is an antibody blood protein that’s part of your immune system. Your body makes IgA and other types of antibodies to help fight off sickness. Having an IgA deficiency means that you have low levels of or no IgA in your blood. IgA is found in mucous membranes, mainly in the respiratory and digestive tracts. It is also found in saliva, tears, and breastmilk. A deficiency seems to play a part in asthma and allergies. Researchers have also linked IgA deficiency to autoimmune health problems. These are health problems that cause your body’s immune system to attack your body by mistake.”
Music, as it relates to brain function operates in three ways:
- It shares areas of the brain with nonmusical processes (movement, speech, emotional regulation, etc).
- It not only shares those areas of the brain but expands and activates more areas of the brain in relation to that behavior (ex: speech).
- It optimizes these shared functions (movement, speech, etc.) in the brain.
Therefore, when we are discussing music’s ability to interact with the non-musical brain, there is countless research to support this.
So, how can you incorporate music into your life in order to increase its ability to improve your immune system function?
Listen to it.
Instead of turning on that podcast that might actually elevate your stress hormones (depending on content), select a favorite playlist.
Instead of turning on the TV while you are cleaning your house, turn on some upbeat music.
Of course, podcasts, silence, and sometimes TV (when used in moderation) are good for your health as well. The purpose of this blog is to increase your understanding that music can affect immune system functions, so if you currently do not listen to music, consider incorporating it more into your life and see what happens!
Researchers have formed a growing interest in the effects of music on brain and body behavior and function. The truth is that we already know it does, now it is time to focus on understanding the specifics and learning more about the details of what is happening in your brain on music. Although there are prominent figures claiming that music is an evolutionary accident, researchers of music and the brain are working to demolish these arguments.
Resources
- Fancourt, D., Ockelford, A., & Belai, A. (2014). The psychoneuroimmunological effects of music: A systematic review and a new model. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 36, 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2013.10.014
- Gerea, A. (2020, May 12). Does listening to music boost your immune system? ZME Science. https://www.zmescience.com/science/does-listening-to-music-boost-your-immune-system/
- Image. (n.d.). Sing and Grow. https://www.growandsing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/9816_10153703552055514_694054629_n.jpg
- Immunoglobulin A Deficiency. (2019, November 19). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/immunoglobulin-a-deficiency#:%7E:text=Immunoglobulin%20A%20(IgA)%20is%20an%20antibody%20that%E2%80%99s%20part%20of%20your,be%20passed%20down%20through%20families.
