I nodded.
She shook her head then took the elastic hair band off her wrist, handed it to me and returned the wretched rubberband to its resting place.
I had just come off the dance floor after communing with the Anointed Vessel Gospel Choir.
Gettin' High on Music
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I nodded.
She shook her head then took the elastic hair band off her wrist, handed it to me and returned the wretched rubberband to its resting place.
I had just come off the dance floor after communing with the Anointed Vessel Gospel Choir.
When I ultimately left the utopia that is Fitzgerald's American Music
Festival, I know I was healthier than when I entered. Dancing with
perfect strangers and smiling with one another as if they're long-lost
childhood friends must be good for you.
In fact, in it's 1946
preamble, the World Health Organization defines health as:
...a state of complete physical,
mental, and social well-being rather than
merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Let's take a look at the parts of the brain that we know to be stimulated by the arts, the amygdala and the hypocampus.
The amygdalae are almond-shaped groups of cells located deep within the brain. They have been shown to perform an essential role in the processing of memory and emotion.
While my amygdalae where doing their thing, a stranger rushed out of the bathroom and hurriedly approached me. Within an inch of my nose she asked, "are we still doing the hokey-pokey?" "Yes" I shouted over the loud music. This version of the hokey-pokey by the band, Brave Combo, was sure proof that there are truly no limits to human creativity.
So now let's take some scientific leaps on the topic of my brain chemistry. Dancing, smiling and sweating in the summer heat with a group of strangers from different ages, ethnic groups and walks of life had the natural effect of furthering my lessons in the philosophy of The World Can Be a Beautiful Place. The music stimulated my amygdalae and this philosophical teaching became further anchored in my own personal belief system.
Now, truth be told, we need healthy amygdalae. Data show that the amygdalae have a substantial role in mental states. Amygdala activity and function have been associated with psychological disorders like borderline personality disorder, social phobia and depression.
While the medical literature is pretty limited on this topic, there is evidence that engagement with artistic activities, either as an observer or participant, can enhance one's moods, emotions, and other psychological states. It's even been shown that such activities can reduce stress and depression and may also help relieve the burden of chronic illnesses. Music therapy has been shown to decrease anxiety and pain as well as improve the function of the nervous system. For example, literature on the use of music therapy with cancer patients have been reported to:
- increase hospitalized patients' sense of control
- promote the healthy aspects of patients' lives
- reduce pain
- improve immunity
- decrease anxiety and overall psychological and physical symptoms
Give it a try yourself! There are so many wonderful music venues in Chicago!
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