DB's Pixnet

20120216 the psychologist

...Music is 'fundamental, universal and ubiquitous', Loveday explained. We learn to appreciate music naturally, she said, and relics of bone flutes and other archaeological evidence show its influence through human history. As Tilbrook soothed sore minds with Chopin's 'Fantasie' Impromptu, findings on the health benefits of music flowed onscreen, including its ability to: lower blood pressure; reduce pain in palliative care; improve sleep; alleviate allergies; boost immune functions; and reduce depression.

It's not just humans that are affected by music. Dogs are calmed by classical pieces, Loveday said, and they bark to rock songs. Unpublished research suggests slow music can boost the milk yield of cows. And my favourite,' Loveday said: 'rats subjected to 24-hours of stress-inducing rock music take longer to heal from their wounds.'

But what exactly is music? Essentially, Loveday said, it's our ear-drums vibrating...

David CK Chang, SSN057-86-4042,
February 16, 2012, Thursday,
National Central Library,
Taipei City