The effects of music on the human condition are well-known. Music as therapy is something that we can all relate to. How often have we listened to our favorite music at times of stress or trouble and been able to instantly uplift or calm our emotions? The limbic system controls the body’s reaction to emotions; therefore, our brains are constantly affecting how we feel and how we respond to our feelings. Psychologists define emotions as a combination of cognitions, feelings, and actions.

The use of music as a tool for healing medical conditions otherwise unable to be treated is now a widely accepted mainstream practice. A well-known example is the recovery of Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was injured in her left brain by a gunshot wound in 2011. As the faculty of language is controlled by the left brain, Giffords was rendered unable to speak. Her successful speech recovery was therefore regained through the stimulation of the right brain through the pairing of melody and rhyme with words.

So what if we can influence our brains through specific sounds to manipulate our cognitions, feelings, and actions? Could this be the answer to overcoming learning challenges, behavioral issues such as ADHD and ADD, and cultivating self-esteem, love, and compassion?

Just as the right sounds of music can soothe, calm, or uplift us, prompting our limbic systems to produce positive responses and actions, so too can specific sounds influence and stimulate better brain function for increased intelligence and learning ability.