Music Hath Charms to Soothe the Savage Beast: The Science and Soul of Musical Relaxation
Long before the written word captured the essence of human emotion, the ancient Bard of Avon penned a phrase that continues to echo through the corridors of time. Because of that, in his play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare declared that “music hath charms to soothe the savage beast. ” This timeless metaphor suggests that the right sounds possess the magical ability to tame our wildest instincts, calm our most intense anxieties, and transform a chaotic mind into one at peace. But what does science have to say about this age-old claim? Is it merely poetic exaggeration, or is there a profound physiological reality behind the soothing power of music?
To understand why music can calm the savage beast, we must first look at how sound interacts with the human brain and body. Because of that, when we listen to music, particularly slow, melodic pieces, our brains undergo measurable changes. Even so, listening to calming music activates the parasympathetic nervous system—the body’s rest-and-digest mechanism—which works in opposition to the fight-or-flight response triggered by stress. As the music plays, our heart rates begin to slow down, our breathing deepens, and our muscles physically relax Not complicated — just consistent..
Adding to this, music has the remarkable ability to stimulate the release of dopamine, often referred to as the brain’s reward chemical. When we experience something pleasurable, such as a favorite song hitting a satisfying chord progression, dopamine floods our reward centers, creating a sense of well-being and contentment. Simultaneously, listening to relaxing music can reduce the levels of cortisol—the body’s primary stress hormone—in
