photo credit: OC Gonzalez

5 Types of Music That Increase Your Happiness, According to Science

Melissa Chu
Jumpstart Your Dream Life
5 min readJul 6, 2020

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Music is the final touch to a setting.

Take any situation, put in music, and the ambiance gets taken to another level. You notice this all the time in films. Music is used as a signal of impending danger, hope, or blissful tranquility.

Music alone can evoke powerful emotions. The reaction upon hearing a tune is almost instant. You might think back to a memorable time in your life or imagine a picturesque scenario.

It comes as little surprise that we turn to music as a quick way to boost our spirits. But what is it about upbeat music that makes us feel better? Do our minds and bodies change as a result from hearing certain songs?

To get the answer, let’s take a look at the science behind music and happiness.

How Does Happy Music Affect Us?

According to scientists at The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital at McGill University, listening to music really does have a physiological effect on our bodies. Their research has found that the pleasurable experience of listening to music releases dopamine, a “feel good” chemical that interacts with the pleasure and reward part of our brain.

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Melissa Chu
Jumpstart Your Dream Life

I write about living better, creating great work, and making an impact. Get your guide to achieving your goals at http://jumpstartyourdreamlife.com/welcome.