Why Listening to Your Favourite Music is Good for You

Do you ever just hear a song and feel like you can’t help but start dancing? That’s me the minute a 70’s disco beat kicks in. I feel it in my body—I want to move, and before I know it, I’m up, spinning around in the dining room, often joined by my five-year-old who loves the fun as much as I do. This little ritual of ours brings me so much joy, but there’s more to it than just enjoying the music.

There’s real science behind why music can make us feel so good and why our favourite songs can do wonders for our mood and mental health. Here’s a look at the neuroscience of why listening to the music you love is more than just a fun activity.

How Music Impacts the Brain

When we listen to our favourite songs, multiple areas of the brain light up in response. Studies using brain imaging show that hearing music activates the reward centers, like the ventral striatum, which releases dopamine—the “feel-good” neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This is the same chemical that’s released when we do something we enjoy, like eating a delicious meal or getting a big hug from a loved one. This dopamine release can improve mood, reduce stress, and even enhance focus.

The Unique Power of Familiar Music

Why do certain songs, like my beloved 70’s disco, seem to hit differently? Familiarity with music heightens the brain’s response even more. Neuroscientists have found that when people hear songs they already know and love, it strengthens neural connections and boosts memory recall, often connecting us back to meaningful times or emotions from our past . So jamming to disco, I’m not just having fun—I’m also tapping into memories and experiences that create an even stronger sense of happiness and nostalgia.

Music and Movement: Why We Just Want to Dance

Music with a strong beat, like disco, stimulates the motor cortex, the part of the brain responsible for controlling movement. This is why you might feel an urge to tap your foot or get up and dance. Moving to music is not only a physical outlet but can also help with mental processing, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety through rhythmic movement .

Why You Should Listen to Your Favourite Music Regularly

You don’t need to be a music expert or have perfect rhythm to benefit from this! Whether it’s disco, jazz, opera, metal or pop, regularly listening to your favourite songs can become a small yet powerful way to boost your emotional well-being. It can provide stress relief, a break from negative thought cycles, and even a quick burst of energy when you need it most.

So, if you have a song you love, press play! Let yourself feel the rhythm, tap into that happiness, and maybe even dance around your dining room. You deserve those moments of joy.

References:

1. Salimpoor, V. N., Benovoy, M., Longo, G., Cooperstock, J. R., & Zatorre, R. J. (2011). "The rewarding aspects of music listening are related to degree of emotional arousal." Journal of Neuroscience.

2. Janata, P. (2009). "The neural architecture of music-evoked autobiographical memories." Cerebral Cortex.

3. Bernardi, N. F., Porta, C., & Sleight, P. (2006). "Cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory changes induced by different types of music in musicians and non-musicians." Heart.