For generations, teens have been known to hole themselves up in their bedrooms and rock out to their favorite tunes. While some might roll their eyes at this behavior, it is, in fact, quite healthy!
Music can have a notable cognitive, emotional, and social effect on teenagers, including a profound influence on their overall well-being and cognitive functions during this crucial stage of life. Eva Carlston Academy explores just how music impacts the teenage brain.
Music’s Positive Impact on Teens
Contrary to popular belief, a youthful taste for heavy metal doesn’t necessarily signify teen angst! A study from Australia’s University of Queensland demonstrated that hardcore music can positively impact emotional wellbeing in teens who were feeling sad or angry, reducing their levels of hostility, stress, and irritability as they enjoyed it. Listening to aggressive music lets teens get lost in the pumped-up vibe, releasing their own intense negative emotions in the process. One doesn’t necessarily need to play an instrument themselves in order to find self-expression through music – sometimes, just listening can be enough.
Negative Music = Negative Emotions
That said, not all genres of music can lead to calmer, happier teenagers. Songs that are particularly sad or upsetting can have a negative impact on a teen’s mental health, and even have long-term impact on the brain. Studies showed that teens who released their moody emotions through sad music often developed higher rates of neuroticism and anxiety over time.
Interestingly, the exact neural impact of moody music in teens differed by gender; boys had decreased activity in their medial prefrontal cortex, while girls had increased activity in the same region. While scientists are still exploring the reason, it seems to show that even the way that teens listen to music and interact with it mentally is divided by gender.
The Role of Music on Cognitive Development
A study from the University of Kansas showed that students who participated in music programs such as band, choir, or private instrumental study, outperformed their peers in every indicator of academic success, including graduation rate, grade point average, attendance, discipline referrals (or lack thereof), and ACT scores. But why is this the case? There are several factors that lead to musical education having a positive impact on a student’s overall success.
For one, reading or listening to music helps the brain recognize patterns and stimulates the area of the brain that is tied to emotional development, math skills, memory, and language reading ability. Also, the discipline of music rehearsal schedules, attending lessons, and keeping up with practicing can help a teen develop their time management and organizational skills as well as their work ethic.
The social effects of music also impact a teen’s daily life. It allows for self-expression and creativity that can build a self-confidence that stretches into all other aspects of a teen’s life. And the social element of music – bonding with others over a shared experience of a song or defining oneself by one’s particular musical taste – can shape a teen for the rest of their life.
Final Thoughts
Music’s impact on the teenage brain is profound, affecting their cognitive function, academic performance, social connections, and overall emotional well-being.