Music is one of the most enjoyable human experiences. Music is an ever-present companion to people’s everyday lives. Music can alter our mood, emotions, motivation, and movement. We listen to music and experience emotions in the absence of any events causing us to feel joy, sadness, or excitement.

We know that physical exercise is essential to stay fit and healthy. But what if you want to exercise your brain? Here’s one simple solution: Play some music! As it turns out, there are several impressive benefits of music on the brain.

1. Music enhances running performance

Runners who listened to fast or slow motivational music completed the first 800 metres of their run faster than those that listened to calm music or ran without. If you are interested in running, listen to music to improve your ability.

2. Musical pleasure

The key reason people listen to music lies in the reward center of the brain. Listening to pleasurable music activates areas of the reward system. The same brain-chemical system that enables feelings of pleasure from sex, recreational drugs, and food is also critical to experiencing musical pleasure. Musical pleasure arises when a pattern is interrupted in some way. Listeners experience strong emotions when something unexpected happens.

3. MUSIC RELIEVES STRESS

Another fantastic health benefit of listening to music is that it reduces stress. For instance, simply hearing a song that reminds you of a special person or place is enough to reduce levels of cortisol. (As we know, this stress hormone can wreak havoc on the body.) By listening to music, you can enjoy the release of dopamine and serotonin canceling out cortisol. From there, any reduction in stress helps you feel more in control of your life—and feelings of control can make you feel more hopeful and powerful. Simply put, listening to music truly makes you feel better.

4. Music strengthens learning and memory

Researchers have found that music can help you learn and recall information better. Participants who were musicians learned better with neutral music and tested better with positive music whereas non-musicians learned better with positive music and tested better with neutral music. Either way, music helped to strengthen participant’s learning and memory.

5. Identity motive

People can use music to express their identity and values to others. Music helps us to show that we belong to a given social group. Music is part of who we are. For example, listening to innovative music can serve to communicate the belief that one is creative and unconventional.

6. Music increases verbal intelligence

A study has shown that after one month of music lessons with children between the ages of 4 and 6, 90% significantly improved their ability to understand words and explain their meaning. Other research found that musically trained women and children outperformed those who weren’t involved in music when completing a verbal memory test.

7. MUSIC PROMOTES ALTRUISM

Perhaps surprisingly, listening to music can even generate feelings of goodwill and connectivity. Oxytocin is another hormone that gets released when you listen to music. Known as the love hormone, it increases feelings of intimacy and trust. Neuroscience research shows that people with higher levels of oxytocin are kinder and more generous to others. In other words, while listening to music by yourself is good for you, doing so with others can be even better to foster greater connection.