Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: atbsphotography on 03/08/2018 23:00:05

Title: Does music induce a reaction similar reaction to an SSRI?
Post by: atbsphotography on 03/08/2018 23:00:05

So I was thinking about why certain types of music have an effect on my mind and I thought whether music has a similar effect on our minds as an SSRI would.

The reason behind this is some music can be mentally stimulating whereas some can bring you down an force you into a depressed state. There would be two types of music that can do this. These are;

Upbeat energetic music; This type of music has the potential to make us feel as if we are happy within ourselves, gives us an energy boost and creates a positive vibe where there wasn't one before.

Downbeat low energy music; This type of music can make you feel less energized, more depressed and can create a depressed vibe or make you feel more depressed than you were before.

With this in mind would it be a fair assumption to replace anti-depressants with a stimulating musical therapy alternative and make it so the younger generation would not be so reliant and medication that may not benefit them in any sort of way?

Afterall medications such as Mertazipine, Sertraline and Citalopram to name just three only really up the serotonin in the brain and thus if we could get the same effect from music it would be quite a lot cheaper than medication that costs the NHS millions a year to prescribe!

Could someone please give me an insight on whether this would work in reality or if it is just a different chemical reaction that happens to us when we listen to this sort of music?

Title: Re: Does music induce a reaction similar reaction to an SSRI?
Post by: chris on 05/08/2018 00:25:39

Music can definitely influence your mood but that's a far cry from being the same as SSRI!

Title: Re: Does music induce a reaction similar reaction to an SSRI?
Post by: evan_au on 05/08/2018 03:38:47

Music has proven an effective therapy amongst the elderly, many of whom suffer from mental decline and depression.

By giving elderly patients in nursing homes access to a selection of music from when they were growing up, many have shown an improved mental and emotional state.

Title: Re: Does music induce a reaction similar reaction to an SSRI?
Post by: chris on 05/08/2018 10:39:33

Thanks @evan_au

This article by John Medina on the "Brain Rules of Ageing Well" (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/features/brain-rules-aging-well) says much the same thing

Title: Re: Does music induce a reaction similar reaction to an SSRI?
Post by: FideliaHelga on 30/03/2022 10:16:16

Music can definitely influence your mood but that's a far cry from being the same as