The Music of Your Childhood Could Mean More Than Mere Nostalgia

When you think about it, every generation has a certain selection of songs that they consider childhood favourites. In the old days, it was classic lullabies and nursery rhymes. Today, we still have those but there’s also a great number of songs from favourite films and TV shows.

But no matter what generation, they all have this in common: These songs always tend to have a positive, relaxing effect.

Now, you may think that it’s because of the nostalgia factor, or maybe it’s because they represent very fond childhood memories. Older or younger generations may not appreciate each other’s ‘classics’ because of the gap.

While all of this is true, there are also more objective, neuroscientific reasons why this occurs! They are a good example of how our brain uses sounds for emotional regulation. And by understanding this, you can have just a bit more insight into how sounds in the environment can still impact health.

Reason #1. We were more sensitive to sound as children.

Our sensitivity to sound starts even before we are born, as our ears are already fully developed after 16 weeks into pregnancy. (Incidentally, this is why we are also quick to recognise our own mother’s voice because she is the first person we hear while we’re in the womb).

Sound also plays a very critical role when we’re learning to talk and communicate. It is through sound that we learn to process information from spoken words. It goes on further to affect our ability to recognise these sounds when we start associating them with their written forms. (In fact, this is why a lot of developmental delays are heavily tied to the way special needs children interpret sound.)

Therefore, it isn’t much of a stretch to see how this sensitivity towards sound makes us very impressionable when it comes to a lot of songs we hear as children. These songs are one of our very earliest experiences of the world, and they tend to stick with us even as we start appreciating other kinds of music later in life. 

Reason #2. Emotional experiences in childhood leave a mark on our brain.

One explanation for why childhood lessons and memories stay with us is because it has been established that our brains have a high degree of plasticity. This means that whatever significant experience we have greatly shapes the very structure of our brain.

The reasons why our brains do this are numerous, from ensuring our survival to retaining important skills. However, this extends further into the realm of emotion.

There are parts of the brain (such as the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex) that also alter in response to positive emotional experience. It does this to help you identify and associate safe places, or even just a sense of calm. And if the experience is characterised by the musical tunes of a song, then the brain becomes trained to generate the same emotional response if the song is heard even in later years.

Reason #3. Sound delivers energy to the brain.

Just like light, sound possesses its own energy and this energy can often be in large amounts that is then transmitted into the brain.

Although itself, it may not seem much. It could just indicate that our brain becomes more alert when we hear something as much as when we see it. However, what if you were to consider this along with the fact that there is also the energy from emotions we associate with certain sounds?

This explains why hearing the sounds we associate with scary things also generate anxiety and stress. The combination of energy does something for us. On the flip side, the same can be said for sounds with more positive associations and the result is preference for memorable songs to lift our moods. It also demonstrates how the ear acts as an energy provider as well as a sensory organ, and why good music (or even just good quality sound) is often advised as another way to improve brain health.

Of course, these are just a handful of interesting facts about our brain when it comes to sound. (Our own Tomatis® Method is one more application of this knowledge.)

All in all though, the impact of a childhood song may not just be because of the song itself, but the way we had grown up with good emotional experiences through it. Consider this the next time you wonder about what to listen to for relaxation!

“Want to learn more about how better listening leads to a better life? Get a consultation with us today!”