Wired for Music : A Search for Health and Joy Through the Science of Sound

**"Beautifully written... a riveting account of how melodies and rhythms connect us, and help us deal with alienation and anxiety."—Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of __The Body Keeps the Score__** **In this captivating blend of science and memoir, a health journalist and former cellist explores music as a source of health, resilience, connection, and joy.** Music isn't just background noise or a series of torturous exercises we remember from piano lessons. In the right doses, it can double as a mild antidepressant, painkiller, sleeping pill, memory aid—and enhance athletic performance while supporting healthy aging. Though music has been used as a healing strategy since ancient times, neuroscientists have only recently discovered how melody and rhythm stimulate core memory, motor, and emotion centers in the brain. But here's the catch: We can tune into music every day and still miss out on some of its potent effects. **Adriana Barton learned the hard way.** Starting at age five, she studied the cello for nearly two decades, a pursuit that left her with physical injuries and emotional scars. In Wired for Music, she sets out to discover what music is really for, combing through medical studies, discoveries by pioneering neuroscientists, and research from biology and anthropology. Traveling from state-of-the-art science labs to a remote village in Zimbabwe, her investigation gets to the heart of music's profound effects on the human body and brain. Blending science and story, __Wired for Music__ shows how our species' age-old connection to melody and rhythm is wired inside us. In a captivating blend of science & memoir, a health journalist & former cellist explores music as a source of resilience, health, & joy. Music isn't just background noise or a series of torturous exercises we remember from piano lessons. It can double as an antidepressant, painkiller, sleeping pill, memory aid — & enhance creativity & athletic performance while supporting healthy aging. Though music has been used as a healing strategy since ancient times, neuroscientists have only recently discovered that musical activities activate almost every brain region ever studied. But here's the catch: We can tune into music every day & still miss out its most potent effects. Adriana Barton learned the hard way. Starting at age five, she studied the cello for nearly two decades, a pursuit that left her with physical injuries & emotional scars. In Wired for Music, she sets out to discover what music is really for, combing through discoveries by pioneering neuroscientists, medical studies, & research from biology & anthropology. Traveling from state-of-the-art neuroscience labs to a remote village in Zimbabwe, Wired for Music gets to the heart of music's profound effects on our bodies & brain. Blending science & story, Wired for Music shows how our species' age-old connection to melody & rhythm is wired inside us. Anyone, at any age or musical talent level, can tap into music to invigorate the body & tune the brain. "In this captivating blend of science and memoir, a health journalist and former cellist explores music as a source of health, resilience, connection, and joy. Music isn't just background noise or a series of torturous exercises we remember from piano lessons. In the right doses, it can double as a mild antidepressant, painkiller, sleeping pill, memory aid--and enhance athletic performance while supporting healthy aging. Though music has been used as a healing strategy since ancient times, neuroscientists have only recently discovered how melody and rhythm stimulate core memory, motor, and emotion centers in the brain. But here's the catch: We can tune into music every day and still miss out on some of its potent effects. Adriana Barton learned the hard way. Starting at age five, she studied the cello for nearly two decades, a pursuit that left her with physical injuries and emotional scars. In Wired for Music, she sets out to discover what music is really for, combing through medical studies, discoveries by pioneering neuroscientists, and research from biology and anthropology. Traveling from state-of-the-art science labs to a remote village in Zimbabwe, her investigation gets to the heart of music's profound effects on the human body and brain. Blending science and story, Wired for Music shows how our species' age-old connection to melody and rhythm is wired inside us."-- Provided by publisher.