Zach Fenno Explores the Multifaceted Power of Music

Meet Zach Fenno, an individual with a deep interest in exploring the emotional and psychological effects of different musical genres. Music has a profound impact on our thoughts, feelings, and overall well-being. In this article, Zach Fenno explores how through various genres, music can evoke specific emotions, provoke introspection, and shape our perspectives on the world.

Music not only helps with memory and cognitive function but can also improve our physical performance and endurance. It is able to help to minimize pain, as well as combat anxiety and depression. It's important to listen to the right songs though, as some genres, tempos, and tones have much more of an effect than others.

Zach Fenno Says that Music Improves Memory

" Educational Studies

Listening to music while studying or learning something can help to improve memory and recall.

However, many studies have shown that only certain types of music are effective in this way. Students who listened to upbeat music had an increase in their results as opposed to listening to more downbeat genres or songs.

But Zach Fenno explains that for those that are musically trained, neutral music was far more effective, as it proved to be less of a distraction from the task at hand.

" Those with Dementia

Music is a powerful tool in evoking memories and in helping us to recollect different experiences. As a result, patients suffering from dementia can use music as a form of therapy to not only improve their memory of important people and events in their lives but also to combat anxiety and depression.

Listening to music, especially old songs that are particular favorites can also help those suffering from dementia to be able to maintain speech and language skills that they otherwise might not be able to use were there not music playing in the background.

Zach Fenno says that when it comes to the type of music, researchers also found a difference between upbeat and downbeat songs. Upbeat and downbeat songs seemed to help to improve memory and recall, but only upbeat songs also boosted cognitive performance.

Improving Physical Performance and Endurance

People listening to music are often able to exercise or carry out strenuous physical activities for longer than those working with no music at all. This is because music helps to lower the sense of exertion, meaning that the brain is distracted from the signals that come along with exhaustion, such as muscle fatigue, heavy breathing, and sweat.

Zach Fenno notes that the best music to pair with physical activity is one with a high BPM (beats per minute). The ideal range is between 125 - 140 BPM, helping people to move faster, move for longer, and feel more motivated to keep going.

Additionally, the tempo or speed of the music can also affect the speed of the person listening to it. If a song is sped up, those listening to it will move faster, while on the other hand, music that has been slowed down will cause the listener to become much more sluggish.

Music and Mental Health

Zach Fenno says that there have been countless studies into the links between music and mental wellbeing. It has been proven that listening to music regularly can help with conditions such as depression, and support those suffering from various neurological disorders such as Parkinson's, dementia, or stroke victims.

Those intentionally listening to positive tunes will also see an increase in their overall happiness as opposed to those who don't regularly make this a part of their routine.

It pays to be mindful when choosing what music to listen to when it comes to mood-boosting qualities, as some genres can end up having a detrimental effect rather than a positive one. Classical music and meditation tracks have shown the best results, while heavy metal and techno were more likely to make things worse.

Pain Management

Zach Fenno explains that music therapy has been used as a complementary approach to managing pain. It can help reduce the perception of pain, alleviate anxiety related to pain, and provide a distraction from physical discomfort.

Fibromyalgia sufferers who listened to at least 1 hour of music per day reported a significant reduction in their chronic pain. Listening to music before surgery can also improve medical outcomes and lead to greater pain management. Patients also reported feeling less stress and anxiety before their surgical procedure.

Zach Fenno says that when it comes to the best songs to reduce pain, there isn't one genre that is better than the others. In fact, researchers found a slight increase in effectiveness when the music chosen was the patient's own choice.