Applications and Physiological Mechanisms of Music Therapy in Insomnia Patients

Abstract

Music has long been an inherent aspect of culture and self-expression. Recently, music has also been used as a form of therapy because of its distinctive ability to relieve stress and promote relaxation in the human body. This has been found to be especially useful as a treatment for stress-linked disorders such as primary insomnia, which is characterized by increased sympathetic nervous system activity (Jerath, R., Beveridge, C., & Barnes, V. A., 2021). Secondary research conducted through a literature review showed that music processing is a “whole-brain activity” (Warren, J., 2008). Stimulation of pleasure centers and regions of the brain which control biorhythms, such as the brain stem, improves mood and promotes relaxation, and therefore better sleep, by releasing hormones such as dopamine and serotonin (Harvard Health, 2021).

Music therapy’s unique potential as a widely accessible form of therapy inspired me to write this article on the mechanisms in which this form of therapy fosters the well-being of insomnia patients. As the fast-paced lifestyles of many individuals has led to a rapid increase in stress-linked insomnia patients, an effective method of treatment should be available to all.