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MPR News with Angela Davis
Catharine Richert and Samantha Matsumoto

What happens in our brains when we hear our favorite songs

A record player on a side table in a home
Hearing your favorite song can put you in a great mood and get you ready for your day. But what is happening in your brain when you listen to music?
Aline Ponce | Pixabay

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What’s your favorite song of the summer? Whether it’s by Harry Styles, Beyoncé or Kate Bush, your song of the summer sets the vibe for the season, puts you in a great mood and gets you ready for whatever the day has in store.

But what is happening in our brains when we hear our favorite songs? Why do certain songs help us focus, get us energized, or make us calm and relaxed? And how can music be a tool for improving our wellness and mental health?

Guest host Catharine Richert talked with a neuroscientist and a music therapist about the link between music and wellness, and how our favorite songs affect our brains and our mental health. And we heard from The Current’s music director Jade about her picks for the song of the summer.

Guests:

  • Annie Heiderscheit is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and the director of the music therapy programs at Augsburg University. She has a PhD in music therapy.

  • Kevin Woods is the director of science for Brain FM, which makes functional music based on neuroscience to help people focus, relax and sleep. He has a PHD in auditory and neuroscience.

  • Jade is the music director and midday host for The Current.