Presence with music and art enhances well-being

We live in a heterogenous world with different societies and cultures. The making and appreciating of music and art transcends and unites societies across time.

Music preceded speech and bone and ivory flutes date back at least 35,000 years ago. There are four main purposes of music: dance, ritual, personal and communal entertainment, and social cohesion. In an era of deep social and political divisions, the unifying power of music is needed as much as ever. 

For a deeper exploration on the therapeutic and spiritual value of music, I recommend the book, This is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession, by Daniel Levitin. Healthy musical engagement centers around relaxation and social connection. You can also listen to a conversation I had with Jakob Hester on this topic as part of the Becoming Wildly Resilient podcast series. 

The psychological and emotional well-being benefits of art is also established. Art is used to represent, communicate and elevate human experience. Engaging with visual arts is associated with improving social and emotional well-being by improving mood, which has found support in neuroimaging studies. 

In a recent study, people enjoyed original works of art at a museum. Researchers measured the cortisol levels in their saliva before and after viewing. They discovered there was a 22% decrease in cortisol levels. This suggests a reduction in stress. The researchers noted a 30% decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines, which suggests a calming effect on the body and a reduction of inflammation. Viewing art simultaneously elicited feelings of excitement, as evident by reduction in body temperature, higher heart rates and variable heartbeat patterns. The researchers concluded that viewing art engages the immune, endocrine and autonomic systems at the same time, and could reduce stress, improve heart health and positively impact our immune system. 

Previous research on music and art aligns with these findings. Music can reduce anxiety, improve emotional balance and reduce pain. Visual art can be effective for meaning making, self-expression, cathartic release of grief and pain, and reduction in emotional distress. 

All this research points to our intuitive knowledge that music and art help us heal, cope with life struggles and make meaning of our experiences. I would add that music and art ties us to our ancestors and is central to what makes us human. This is an important insight to remember as artificial intelligence increasingly appropriates and simulates music and art making. Making music and art, and engaging with human-made music and art, links us to our shared collective past and renders possible a shared collective future.