EXPLORING THE COGNITIVE EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON DEVELOPING MINDS: WHY MUSIC IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Music is for everyone. Whether you play it for fun, work in it professionally, or just listen for

enjoyment, music evokes feelings in a way unlike anything else. It’s all around us; on the radio,

in shops, on TV, and it has a much greater impact on your brain and emotions than you might

realise. Especially for young people, during critical stages of development, music can play an

essential role in supporting emotional, cognitive, and social connections.

Whether you’re listening or playing, music can lift your mood, reduce stress, improve memory,

fine motor skills, and build social connections. All are essential for a developing brain.

Music makes you feel something, whether you’re blasting your favourite playlist, winding down

with calming tunes, or enjoying live music; it’s an experience that’s hard to replicate. Many

people use music as a daily stress-management tool without even realising it. Ever played

music to relax after a long day? Or queued up your go-to hype song before something big?

That’s emotional regulation through music, and it works. Science has shown that music

stimulates the release of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, the “feel-good” hormones that

promote happiness, relaxation, and connection. Music can be thought-provoking, emotional,

relatable, exciting, and intense all at once. That’s why it's so good for you, not just good for the

brain but good for the soul.

→Source: Music & the Brain – PMC

During times of stress and mood changes, young people often use music to manage emotions.

Music provides tools for immediate, instinctive expression that they may lack otherwise.

Research shows music can trigger dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin hormones linked to

happiness and connection. This regulation helps manage diagnosis systems such as anxiety,

depression, schizophrenia, and autism by stimulating neurochemical systems. A 12-session

music therapy study found a 24.6% decrease in anxiety—a strong testament to music’s power

to reduce stress.

→Study link – PubMed

Music supports cognitive development measurably. Listening or playing activates brain areas for

emotion, memory, attention, and motor coordination. It also synchronizes with internal rhythms

such as heart rate and breathing, promoting relaxation and attention. But its influence goes

even further. Music enhances reading, memory, and auditory discrimination. Early musical

engagement boosts neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new pathways. Research in

Frontiers in Neuroscience links youth music education with greater attention, comprehension,

and language skills. Developing these abilities early supports cognitive, emotional, and social

growth.

Learning to play music brings powerful outcomes, especially for a developing brain. The skills

young people learn from playing an instrument or learning music, such as increased attention

span, persistence, and discipline, are skills that can be transferred into any career as well as everyday life. Playing music is proven to increase a child’s executive function, meaning they will

have better working memory, engage in flexible thinking, practice self-control, and task

monitoring. These are the very skills that support success in school, relationships, and

eventually the workplace. Moreover, music also increases a young person's opportunity to

explore creativity and self-expression, allowing them to develop a sense of self through different

forms. It becomes a way they can safely experiment with identity and express complex feelings

without judgment. Playing Music in groups is also great for a young person's verbal and

non-verbal communication. It requires synchronisation; listening to others, adjusting to the

timing and volume of those around you, and prompting negotiation and response to feedback,

skills every young person needs to develop. Participating in music can build confidence and a

sense of achievement - whether it be performing or learning, it offers an opportunity for an

increase in self-esteem and pushes individuals out of their comfort zones.

For many people, especially young people, music is often closely tied to identity. What someone

listens to can reflect their emotions, beliefs, background, or social group. Music becomes a way

of communicating who they are to themselves as well as others. The type of music they listen to

and enjoy helps those around you understand more about who you are as a person. This

ever-changing interest in genre, artist, or sound is something that is integral to holding a good

sense of self-awareness and identity. It is also great for building social connections with

like-minded individuals. Shared musical tastes foster social connection and a sense of

belonging, sparking friendships, fostering group belonging, and opening doors to new

experiences, whether that's a concert, joining a music club, or simply talking. Music, in many

ways, is a social glue. Additionally, through engagement with emotionally expressive music,

young people can develop better emotional awareness of themselves and others, promoting

empathy and understanding of emotional maturity. Through music, they see or hear others'

emotions, through lyrics, tone, and performance, building social connection and understanding

of those around them.

Who would’ve thought that something as simple as listening to music each day could offer so

many benefits to the developing brain, emotionally, cognitively, and socially? Whether young

people are strumming a guitar, singing in a group, or just listening to their favourite music. They

are doing far more than passing the time. They’re learning, growing, and connecting with

themselves and the world around them. So next time you hit play, remember, music isn’t just

entertainment it is nourishment for the brain, the heart, and the soul.