How Movie Soundtracks Affect The Brain
Music is a global language. It evokes memories, evokes emotions and helps us even through difficult times, which is why it is a very impressive element in the film world. Believe it or not, the soundtracks in movies affect the brain. Think about it: who wouldn’t remember the soundtrack of their own favorite movie? We are sure you will remember the songs.
Many people find it impossible to understand movies without music. Many old movies are still relevant today thanks to their remarkable soundtracks. The Star Wars movies are a good example of this, as is the wind-driven and always equally popular shower scene in Psyko .
The soundtracks in movies can mix emotions. They can even make us smile, cry or be disturbed. This is because they have an effect on the brain. Let’s dive a little deeper into this topic.
Music and the brain
Music is an exciting art form that makes us travel through time and live moments again. In fact, music always surrounds us. But what happens to the brain when we listen to it?
According to some studies, music has played an important role in evolution. When researchers studied the brain’s reactions to music, they found that music affected many areas of control and movement. As a result, they found that music helped our ancestors stay together and develop from their selfless behavior.
In 2015, researchers at the University of Helsinki conducted a study and came to the conclusion that classical music has an effect on pleasure-related genes. People who listened to Mozart during the experiment showed more brain activity.
Music researcher and philosopher Julius Portnoy says that music can raise the level of endorphins in the brain, leading to a feeling of pleasure and relaxation. Listening to music can even affect your metabolism, blood pressure, energy levels, and digestion.
Given that music activates many areas of the brain at the same time, many mental health experts turn to music to help their patients with mood disorders. This is known as music therapy. In music therapy, music is basically used as a tool to improve a patient’s health and overall well-being. In fact, studies have shown that it can be useful when used in rehabilitation, wellness programs, and education.
How the soundtracks of movies affect the brain
The soundtracks of the films are created by expert composers. These artists know exactly how music affects the brain and how music is used to capture us. They use the power of music to trigger emotions. Composer Bernard Herrmann, for example, convinced Alfred Hitchcock that he should add music to the shower scene in Psyko .
The soundtracks of films are extremely important because in a way they create a relationship between what the viewers see and their feelings during the film.
Music plays a fundamental role in triggering fear and anxiety. This is true for all types of movies, not just horror movies. In action movies, for example, it acts like an impulse, causing the heart to beat and drowning us in the power of tension during certain scenes. In mystery movies, it can ask us to think about what’s going on. So all types of movies make use of music.
Some studies have confirmed that the soundtracks in movies affect the brain. In 2010, the University of California published a study that showed that humans and some wildlife show the same sensitivity to alarm sounds. Soundtrack composers use certain sounds to trigger anxiety, restlessness, or nervousness.
Infrared sounds used in movies
Infrasound is a low-frequency sound that people cannot detect. However, it causes natural and emotional physical reactions.
Infrasound is used in movie soundtracks to support the viewer’s mental state. With the help of infrasounds, composers are able to make the viewer feel fear, sadness and happiness, among other things. In Paranormal Activity , for example, infrasound was used to ensure that viewers experienced anxiety and fear during some scenes.
In summary, we can say that the soundtracks of the films make the cinematic experience much more real and interesting.
