Why Does Music Make You Feel Better?

Different people tend to have different preferences to different kind of cuisines and it is likely to satisfy their hunger in the same manner different people enjoy different genres because any kind of desired noise unlike other kinds of noise pollution is what is required to change your state of mind and thinking. Our auditory nerves of the brain process to different kinds of sounds according to their decibel levels and the frequency of these sound waves. Thus if there is any shrieking noise then our brain interprets it as a disturbance while well orchestrated sounds are soothing and at the same time it can affect the state of mind and energy levels. That is the reason music has so many genres just like food has different cuisines. Each has their own fondness and criticisms. In this way different people feel good while listening to different music.

Researchers have found out that our brain is likely to react to music in a similar manner as it reacts to good food, sex, and certain drugs. Neuroscientists use magnetic resonance imaging to observe the brain areas where it is activated by music. In the limbic and paralimbic areas they found the same rush of dopamine food; sex and addictive substances are being activated. It was an interesting discovery because music is abstract unlike food or sex. However here are some facts about feeling good while listening to music.

• Acts as a powerful drug- Music can be used as a powerful drug. It may have to do with how our brains just love predicting and decoding patterns. Early psychological theories are likely to suggest that music sets up aural patterns that charm our mind. If the prediction is correct then we are likely to receive a little reward. The little game of back and forth with the music and the expectations results in a pleasurable little emotional dance.
• Makes happy- The researchers have found that music is likely to influence the emotional ratings of the faces. Happy music makes happy faces look even happier while sad music exaggerated the melancholy of a frown.  The similar effect was also noticed with neutral faces. The simple moral is that the emotions of music are cross-modal, and can easily spread from sensory system to another. 
• As an enhancer- Music therefore can be used as a mood enhancer or elevator. For example: - the broken-hearted, a sad song is empathetic and validating. It is an elixir of motivation to compel the completion of the most mundane of tasks. There are many ways to participate in and utilize music and broadening musical experience and taste can become a journey of self discovery for like any art form, in music we see our humanity.
• Reflects culture- Adding another layer of complexity to the music enjoyment phenomenon is the fact that our personal reactions to music will have a cultural aspect to them. That is if we are to have any expectations about a piece of music then we must have some context or some rules in place regarding what is normal. These expectations will largely be based on what we have heard all our lives and what is considered acceptable in our culture and geographic area. For example:- waltz rhythms sound natural to Western Europeans, while Eastern Europeans are more accustomed to rhythms that may sound complicated to those outside their region. The melodies and harmonies commonly heard in India do not work well on a piano. 
• Similar languages- Musical styles tend to have some similarity with languages. As with languages we do not know, a musical style we are not familiar with may sound all the same to us. While music we know intimately may seem to have infinite complexity and interest. For example:- if you do not know Chinese or opera then it may all sound pretty similar to your ear. But if you take a few classes then the language begins to reveal itself and the music will make you feel good.

Thus our response to music is clearly multi-faceted and culturally dependent. Understanding, there is probably a reason for taking pleasure in the process of listening, expecting and predicting music. The complexities involved in understanding exactly why music makes you feel good continue to confound psychologists and musicologists. However, it can provide you an endless supply of enjoyment if you continue to listen to music.