using music to get a better brain, by phil maffetone

Music and Wellness

Dr. Philip Maffetone

Humans: hunter gatherer musicians

The Origin of Wellness

Music can stimulate all areas of the brain

Human Songs:

Communication

Sexual selection(all songs are love songs)

Evolution of society

Human songspreceded language by

millions of years

Music helps stimulatebrain development

Life

Fatigue, excess fat storage, blood sugar problems, heart distress, low immunity,

muscle imbalance, overtraining, poor sleep, and reduced brain function.

High Cortisol:

Life

A key role in human survival.Safety, shelter, clothing, footwear.

A Biofeedback Brain

Biofeedback Background

The term biofeedback was coined in the 1960s by scientists who trained human subjects to

consciously alter their brain and body function.

Biofeedback Today

Wellness Assessment & Therapy:Taking temperature with a thermometer.

Heart rate monitoring during exercise.Pain control, stress management,

helping gut function, blood pressure control,

Kegal exercises (pelvic floor muscles).

Sound: Brain Gives and Receives

1. Sound waves (vibration) ears auditory cortex

2. Vibration skin thalamus

BRAIN INPUT

BRAIN OUTPUT

Specific brain wavesassociated with different states of consciousness

Brain Waves

Four commonly measured waves:

1.beta waves Full awareness/high cortical activity. A busy brain (business meeting, planning a trip, multi-tasking).

1.alpha waves Relaxed alertness and high creativity (meditation, listening to music, eyes closed). Self-regulation of stress and expanded state of consciousness.

Brain Waves

3. theta waves Awake but dreamy state (common just before the onset of sleep). Most prevalent in youth but occurs during deep creativity and meditation in adults.

4. delta waves Most stages of sleep. Abnormal while awake (reduced glucose, oxygen or other nutrients, medication side-effects, poorly functioning neurons).

Increased alpha Waves

• Generally associated with an overall healthy brain (relaxed, creative, meditative, happy).

• Reduce high levels of cortisol.• Balance the autonomic system.• Reduce pain.• Improve memory, learning, comprehension,

blood sugar, gut function, hormone balance, and other factors.

• Can correct muscle imbalance – The combination of abnormal muscle

inhibition and facilitation.– Causes of many physical impairments.

alpha Waves

• The inability to produce alpha waves is abnormal. – Often due to inadequate sleep, nutritional imbalance

and very high levels of stress (cortisol).– Dysfunction in TMJ muscles, all neck flexors, upper

trapezius.

alpha Waves

Traditional Neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback)

• Can help change the characteristics of brain waves for better brain function.

• Used in many types of patients: traumatic injury, attention deficit, alcoholism, anxiety and depression, seizures, sleep disorders, metabolic problems, and for performance enhancement.

Brain wave assessment (brain map) with a 20-lead quantitative EEG (QEEG)

Normal alpha waves: eyes closed

alpha waves response to different parts of a musical piece: The “Gallo Affect”

Manual Biofeedback

• Combines many of the benefits of EMG- and EEG-type biofeedback.

• A hands-on therapy that does not require the use of computers, electrodes and other technology.

Respiratory Biofeedback: The 5-Minute Power Break

1. Relaxed position–lying/slightly reclined ( alpha).2. Hands/arms relaxed on abdomen (EMG-type bio-

feedback effect on diaphragm and abdominals).3. Eyes closed ( alpha).4. Listen to enjoyable music (headphones help keep out

distracting noise, alpha). 5. Breath easy and deep–most people can slowly inhale

5 to 7 seconds, and exhale the same ( alpha).

The 5-Minute Power Break

– Perform for about five minutes once or twice daily.

– Avoid getting sleepy (delta waves). This may indicate a sleep disorder (such as sleep apnea).

Music Matters – Make it part of each day. – Listen to enjoyable music. – Watch music-related movies or videos. – Dance. – Play music. – Music during your workout?

If we’re not busy being bornwe’re busy dying

(Paraphrase, Bob Dylan, 1964)

The Most Important Wellness Recommendation

www.philmaffetone.com

Music & Wellness Tour

Manual Biofeedback DVD & Workbook