A ZENE ÉS AZ AGYMŰKÖDÉS KÖLCSÖNHATÁSAI
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MUSIC AND BRAIN FUNCTION

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of music on the brain, the nervous system, and mood. At the end of the 20th century, not only Neurotheology as a new border-science, but also tools like computed tomography, isotope methods and magnetic resonance imaging tools aided the understanding of brain functions. Listening to music involves the limbic system of the brain as well, because music is emotionally processed, and the entire brain is activated. The almond-sized and shaped part of the limbic system is the amygdala, the primary task of which is processing and expressing emotions. Several studies report that music can activate the core of the amygdala. Music, sound and vibration create emotions in the hearer without particular intermediary hormonal agents, ligands and peptides. The research results of development psychology support the theory of brain plasticity: the music we hear affects our brain development. Cognitive and affective neurosciences have devoted great attention to the effects of music and singing osn the brain and, keeping brain plasticity in mind, they have studied how instrument playing, singing or other musical activity changes the mechanism of certain areas of the brain. Music is a tool in the hands of the facilitator, the pastoral counsellor or the minister by which he/she can gladden, energize, comfort or shake others. Therefore, however, we need to know the interactions of music and brain function.

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