Playing a musical instrument is more than a hobby—it's a multifaceted activity that could potentially enhance cognitive function and overall well being. From boosting memory and attention to reducing stress and anxiety, the possible benefits of musical training are far-reaching and can improve whole person care, an approach that considers all aspects of a person’s wellness to improve long-term outcomes.
In this article, we'll highlight the science behind these cognitive advantages, exploring how music can contribute to a healthier and more fulfilling life. We'll uncover the brain benefits of playing musical instruments, such as the physiological changes in brain structure and function, and compare the cognitive impact of active music making to passive listening.
By understanding how playing an instrument benefits your brain, we can appreciate its potential to promote long-term health.
What are the Brain Benefits of Playing a Musical Instrument?
Research shows that listening to music and playing a musical instrument can have profound positive benefits on brain health, extending from childhood through late adulthood.
For example, exposure to music lessons and training in how to read music in childhood has been shown to contribute to better verbal memory, reading ability, and executive function, and may even predict improved academic performance (Miendlarzewska & Trost, 2014). Meanwhile, a 2020 report found that learning to play music later in life is correlated with better attention, processing speed, and overall mental health.
Here, we’ll investigate how playing an instrument can benefit your brain in numerous ways, including mental health improvements, dementia prevention, aiding with recovery after brain injury such as concussion, and positively impacting cognitive and neurological function.
Mental Health Benefits
Many studies have explored the mental health benefits of playing a musical instrument, showing that musical engagement can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression (Gustavson, et al., 2021). Playing an instrument can be a form of self-expression and a creative outlet, which may help to alleviate stress and negative emotions (cite). It also triggers the release of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, which have calming and mood-boosting effects (Rebecchini, 2021).
Music also has the power to enhance social connection by bringing people together, fostering social bonds, and creating a sense of community. By helping combat loneliness, group music activities can improve mental health and emotional well being and strengthen social skills (cite).
Dementia Prevention
Engaging in music stimulates the brain, promoting the formation of new neural connections and enhancing cognitive function, which can help to improve memory, attention, language skills, and overall cognitive function in older adults (Zhang, Q., Park, A., & Suh, K.-H, 2024). In 2022, a review of studies published in BMC Neurology revealed that playing musical instruments was associated with a lowered risk of developing dementia (Arafa, A., et al., 2022).
Another study demonstrated that playing piano can improve working memory, processing speed, and verbal fluency in adults ages 60 to 80, which may help to prevent cognitive decline and dementia (Bugos J. & Wang Y., 2022). The 2020 AARP report also showed that people with dementia can maintain the ability to play a musical instrument even in later stages of disease.
This evidence suggests that regular musical practice can be a preventive healthcare measure by strengthening cognitive reserve and making the brain more resilient to age-related decline. This also helps explain why music therapy has been shown to improve cognitive function, quality of life, and mental health in individuals with mild cognitive impairment and early stage dementia (Moreno-Morales et al., 2020).
Brain Injury Recovery
Playing a musical instrument can be a powerful tool for neurological rehabilitation, aiding in recovery from a wide range of brain injuries, including concussion, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Music practice can help to improve motor function, speech, and language skills in individuals recovering from brain injuries (Magee et al., 2017; Hedge, 2014). For example, studies have shown that music therapy can help stroke survivors regain motor function by stimulating brain activity and promoting neural connectivity (Ghai, S. et al., 2021).
In addition to physical and cognitive benefits, playing a musical instrument can also help reduce the mental health implications of brain injuries, such as anxiety and depression, which are common challenges during recovery from these conditions (Howlett et al., 2022). Overall, music therapy can be a valuable tool for individuals recovering from brain injuries by helping improve physical, cognitive, and emotional well being, and supporting the rehabilitation process (Siponkoski, S. T. et al., 2021).
Cognitive Benefits
Musical training has a significant impact on cognitive abilities, particularly in the areas of memory, attention, focus, and concentration. That’s because playing an instrument requires the integration of various cognitive processes, including:
- Working memory: This type of memory allows us to hold and manipulate information in our minds while performing a task. When playing an instrument, we must remember musical notation, timing, and fingerings while simultaneously executing the physical movements required to produce sound. This constant mental juggling can strengthen the capacity of our working memory (Nichols et al., 2024).
- Attention: Playing an instrument demands sustained attention and the ability to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously. We must pay attention to the sheet music, our own playing, the performance of any other musicians, and the overall tempo and dynamics of the piece. This focused attention can improve our ability to concentrate on tasks and filter out distractions.
- Executive function: Executive function refers to a set of higher level cognitive processes that allow us to plan, organize, and regulate our behavior. When learning and practicing a new piece of music, we must break down the music into smaller sections, set goals, and monitor our progress. This process can strengthen our executive function skills, allowing us to better plan and organize our thoughts and actions.
- Spatial reasoning: Music notation and the physical layout of instruments require strong spatial reasoning skills. Deciphering sheet music, understanding the layout of a keyboard or fretboard, and visualizing musical phrases all rely on spatial intelligence.
Studies have shown that playing a musical instrument can have a positive impact on cognitive abilities, particularly in areas such as spatial reasoning and problem solving (Lippolis et al., 2022). Music education can also improve language skills and mathematical abilities (Ishiguro et al., 2023, Cabanac et al., 2013), which are important for academic success. Here’s how playing a musical instrument may improve other cognitive skills:
- Problem solving: Learning a musical instrument involves constant problem solving. Musicians must analyze musical scores, identify patterns, and develop creative solutions to technical challenges. This problem solving experience can transfer to other areas of life, improving critical thinking and decision making skills.
- Creativity: Music is a powerful medium for creative expression. Composing music, improvising, and interpreting musical works all require imagination, innovation, and the ability to think outside the box. Musical training can foster creativity and inspire new ideas in other areas of life.
- Language skills: Music and language share many cognitive similarities. Both involve processing complex patterns, understanding syntax and grammar, and using symbols to represent meaning. Musical training can enhance language skills, such as vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension.
- Mathematical abilities: Music theory involves mathematical concepts such as fractions, ratios, and geometry. Learning to read and write music can help improve mathematical skills and logical reasoning.
How Does Playing a Musical Instrument Impact the Brain?
The neurological benefits of musical training are multifaceted, ranging from physical to mental to emotional. Music engages multiple brain areas, including the auditory cortex and motor cortex (Choi U.-S. et al., 2021), and activating this complex interplay of neural networks strengthens functional connectivity and may improve information processing ability.
Since playing a musical instrument stimulates the brain in so many ways, there’s evidence that it also can change brain structure by promoting the formation of new neural connections.
When we learn and practice a new musical skill, we create neural pathways in the brain that become stronger and more efficient over time. Neuroimaging studies (Zatorre, 2015; Fasano et al., 2020) have found that playing a musical instrument activates reward centers of the brain, promoting white matter plasticity (Imfeld et al., 2009) and maturation in regions of the brain responsible for emotion and impulse control (Gustavson D.E., et al. 2021) and more:
- Improved Cognitive Control: Playing an instrument requires complex cognitive processes, such as planning, decision making, attention, and working memory. These cognitive demands strengthen neural networks associated with cognitive control, allowing us to better focus, organize, and regulate our thoughts and actions.
- Enhanced Integration of Sensory Information: Music involves the integration of auditory, visual, and motor information. This sensory integration enhances cognitive flexibility and problem solving skills. For example, when reading sheet music, we must integrate the visual information on the page with the auditory information in our minds to produce the correct sounds. This process requires us to flexibly switch between different cognitive processes, which can improve our overall cognitive flexibility.
- Stress Reduction and Emotional Well Being: Playing and listening to music has the ability to calm the mind and elevate mood. By stimulating the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and oxytocin, music can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, while promoting emotional well being and fulfillment.
Are There Differences in Listening to Music vs. Playing Music?
While listening to music can be enjoyable and relaxing, actively playing an instrument offers unique cognitive benefits. Passive listening primarily activates the auditory cortex, whereas making music engages multiple brain areas, including motor, sensory, and cognitive regions. This increased neural activation leads to more significant cognitive improvements (Ding et al., 2024; Choi U.-S. et al., 2021).
Furthermore, playing an instrument requires focus and concentration, active engagement, problem solving, and creative expression. This level of mental and physical involvement stimulates the brain in different ways than passive listening (Nguyen, T., & Grahn, J. A., 2017). When making music, we are constantly making decisions, adapting to new challenges, and creating something new, which further strengthens cognitive abilities.
Playing a Musical Instrument as Part of Whole-Person Health
Incorporating music into daily life can have a profound impact on overall well being, in both the short and long term, and can be a valuable part of a patient-centered care plan.
Playing a musical instrument offers a myriad of cognitive benefits, stimulating the brain and potentially enhancing cognitive function, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals recovering from brain injuries or living with neurological disorders. Additionally, music therapy has been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression by promoting emotional balance and reducing overall stress.
By encouraging patients to engage in musical activities, healthcare providers can help them strengthen social connections, improve communication skills, and cultivate a sense of community, while enhancing whole person health. Music provides a creative outlet for self-expression, emotional release, and rewarding experiences, which can ultimately lead to a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.
Creyos Health supports whole person care by addressing multiple dimensions of patient well being, including mental and cognitive health. Learn how to easily administer behavioral health questionnaires, accurately screen and test for dementia, cognitive decline, and brain injury, and get immediate results—all from our comprehensive platform.
