Music, Mood and Exercise

Listening to (or making) music increases blood flow to brain regions that generate and control emotions. The limbic system, which is involved in processing emotions and controlling memory, “lights” up when our ears perceive music.

The chills you feel when you hear a particularly moving piece of music may be the result of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that triggers sensations of pleasure and well-being. As your brain becomes familiar with a particular song, your body may release dopamine upon hearing just the first few notes of the song.

Why does music make us feel? The stories it tells are all subtlety and subtext. And yet, even though music says little, it still manages to touch us deep, to tickle some universal nerves. When listening to our favourite songs, our body betrays all the symptoms of emotional arousal. The pupils in our eyes dilate, our pulse and blood pressure rise, the electrical conductance of our skin is lowered, and the cerebellum, a brain region associated with bodily movement, becomes strangely active.

Blood is even re-directed to the muscles in our legs. (Some speculate that this is why we begin tapping our feet.) In other words, sound stirs us at our biological roots.

Music releases dopamine, which is a feel good hormone. Combine this with the fact exercise releases serotonin and endorphins, and we have a holy trifecta of awesomeness when we workout right and have some wicked tunes playing.

A total recipe for total badass feeling.

Serotonin controls your mood and is responsible for happiness

Endorphin are a type of “feel-good” brain chemical. They act as natural pain and stress relievers

Dopamine is a chemical released in the brain that makes you feel good.

What could be a better stress reliever!!!!