Resor
Musics Nikki Effect on the Human Brain
General Purpose: To inform
Specific Purpose: At the end of my speech, the audience will understand how music has
an effect on the human brain.
Organizational pattern: Topical
Introduction
I. Attention Getter: In the 1970s, teenagers would put raw eggs on the stage at
rock concerts, and the extreme pitches from the amplifier would cook the egg.
II. Thesis: Music affects the human brain in ways that we are not even aware of.
III. Relevance to audience: College students are highly affected by music because it
is involved in so many of the activities we participate in.
IV. Speaker Credibility: I am personally a huge fan of music so I went very in depth
with my research.
V. Preview: Now I will tell you how the brain interprets music, why it is beneficial
to our well being, and the ways in which it can negatively affect us.
Transition: Okay so let me start off by giving you an overall idea of how our brains
interact with music
I. Main Point #1: How our brains are affected by music
a. Music stimulates the flow of brainwaves between the left and right
hemispheres of our brain, which in turn affects the way we think.
b. Brainwaves have multiple frequency levels that each affects our mood and
attitude differently.
Transition: Okay so now that you have an idea of the way our brains interact with
music
II. Main Point #2: The benefits music has on our mind
a. Music can affect memory, creativity, emotions, stress level, cardiovascular
function, and athletic performance, to name a few.
b. According to Harvard Mens Health Watch, some forms of music, like
Mozart, can stimulate selected brain cells and help them process info more
efficiently. Information being studied activates the left-brain while the
music activates the right brain.
c. A study performed at Southwest University reported that music therapy
has the ability to reduce depression in college students and improve their
overall mental health.
d. According to Journal the of Advanced Nursing, music has the ability to
affect mood, which in turn affects movement and activity.
e. There are different aspects of music such as rhythm, pitch, harmony,
frequency, and melody that all have different impacts on the brain.
f. Music with stronger beats has been proven to strengthen memory due to
increased alertness and concentration.
Transition: So now that you have heard some of the ways in which music can help us
III. Main Point #3: Negative Affects of Music
a. Music that is considered disharmonic can have 2 negatives affects.
b. Behavior degradation can occur when an avid disharmonic music listener
goes too long without it, therefore having symptoms of withdrawal and
depression.
c. Dr. John Diamond found that when people are listening to hard rock, all
the muscles in their body go weak due to the stopped anapestic beat.
d. Music can disrupt the regular flow of brainwaves causing us to be
confused and distracted.
Transition: Okay so to summarize my main points
Conclusion
Summary: I talked about how our brains interpret music, the beneficial factors of music,
and the harmful effects it has on our minds.
Closing thought: Hopefully this information has given you a new outlook on how
powerful music really is and why it plays such an important role in our lives.
References
Brain waves show students how music affects mind . (2006,
March 19). Retrieved from
h t t p : / / w w w. m c d a n i e l . e d u / 2 0 9 3 . h t m
Jinliang, W., Haizhen, W., & Dajun, Z. (2011). Impact of group music therapy on the
depression mood of college students. Health (1949-4998), 3(3), 151-155.
doi:10.4236/health.2011.33028
M u s i c a n d h e a l t h . ( 2 0 1 1 , J u l y ) . H a r v a r d M e n ' s H e a l t h Wa t c h ,
15(12), 1-5.
Murrock, C. J., & Higgins, P. A. (2009). The theory of music, mood and
movement to improve health outcomes. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(10),
2249-2257. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05108.x