Sad songs can comfort the depressed

Music is medicine. It has the power to heal us. And today’s guest knows it’s something we can self-prescribe, for free, whenever we want to benefit.

Dr Daniel Levitin is a neuroscientist, cognitive psychologist and bestselling author. He’s also a former record producer and an accomplished musician who’s brought all those skills together in his latest book, Music As Medicine: How We Can Harness Its Therapeutic Power. As soon as I heard about it, I had to ask Dan onto the podcast to share his wisdom.

As a lifelong musician and music fan, I know certain tracks change how I feel. But talking to Dan has opened my mind to just how profound an effect music has on the brain. It doesn’t just shift our mood, it can affect our entire physiology. Dan has spent decades studying this, advising the US Government and working with the National Institutes of Health, to the point where his research is now influencing global health policy. We’ve all experienced the health-giving power of music, perhaps without realising. Now with that knowledge, and Dan’s insights, we can start to put it to therapeutic use.

Here’s what fascinates me the most: music doesn’t just hit one part of your brain. Different types activate different regions, in much the same way as certain medications work. And Dan shares some astounding examples of this – from the people with Parkinson’s who relearn to walk, to the marathon runners who don’t feel pain, to the Alzheimer’s patients who can’t recognise loved ones, but can recall how to play an instrument perfectly. The brain regions that process music are deeper, older and more protected. It’s why music communicates emotion in ways that words can’t always match.

Throughout our conversation, Dan makes this case that music is our birthright. And it can flood us with feelgood, bonding hormones. So it’s a tool we can turn to for overcoming trauma, processing difficult feelings, or connecting with others. But he doesn’t just want us to listen. Playing an instrument, singing and songwriting all do more than you might expect – and you don’t need to be an expert.

The next time I’m strumming my guitar, I won’t just think of it as a hobby. I’ll know I’m doing something profoundly important for my health. And you can too. Whether it’s learning an instrument, having a family singalong in the car, or simply switching on the radio, I’m not sure there’s a simpler, more effective way to feel better.

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.