The soundtracks of the films have the power to move us, to make us smile, to annoy us or to make us cry, this is only possible because of the consequences they have on the functioning of our brain, let’s go further.
Music is a universal language. It is able to evoke memories, arouse feelings and even help us in difficult times, so it has a big impact on the world of cinema, who does not remember the soundtrack of your favorite film?
- For many people it is impossible to understand cinema without music.
- Many films have become immortal thanks to their musical score.
- ?Star Wars? Is that a clear example of that too?And he took the wind? Or the mythical bathroom scene in the movie “Psycho.
- “.
Music envelops us, moves us and is able to make us travel back in time, in fact we live with it all the time. Now, what happens in the brain when we hear a melody?
According to some studies, music, in addition to having a vast past, has played an important role in the human evolutionary level, in studying the brain’s response to music it was observed that the main areas involved were those related to control and With this discovery, the researchers created the theory that music helped our ancestors to unite and develop altruistic behaviors.
According to a 2015 study by the University of Helsinki, classical music has an effect on genes related to the feeling of pleasure, in fact, people who listened to Mozart’s composition during the experiment showed better brain activity, the improvement was even greater if they knew it.
Julius Portnoy, musicologist and philosopher, says that music can increase endorphin levels in the brain, so it produces states of pleasure such as relaxation, listening to music can even alter metabolic rates, blood pressure, energy and digestion.
Music is also used to treat certain psychological disorders and diseases, simultaneously activates a large number of regions of the brain and is known as music therapy, it is a type of therapy that uses music as a tool to improve a person’s health and well-being. In fact, it has proven useful in rehabilitation, wellness and education programs.
The musical composers of the films know very well how soundtracks influence the brain, so they use the power of music as a trigger for emotions, as they see fit, such as composer Bernard Herman’s insistence on convincing Alfred Hitchcock to add music to the shower scene in “Psycho”.
Music is extremely important in cinema because it serves to establish a relationship between the plot and the emotions that are transmitted to the viewer.
Music plays a fundamental role in generating fear and anguish, for example, in action movies acts as the pulse that accelerates our heart rate and leaves us on suspense during certain scenes, or invites us to reflect on mystery films, any genre is enriched when the music takes the stage.
Some studies confirm the influence of soundtracks on the brain. In 2010, a study by the University of California showed that our sensitivity to alarm sounds is very similar to that of some wild animals. Sounds are used by soundtrack composers to generate distress, anxiety or nervousness.
As you can see, the influence of soundtracks on the brain is inevitable, although most of the time one does not realize, in fact, it is not necessary for the music to be of excellent quality, only present the right tones and frequencies. .
Are there other sounds in the movies? Aren’t these soundtracks?And they affect the brain: it’s the undersonid. They are sounds emitted at levels that are not audible to humans, but with frequencies that produce natural and emotional physical reactions.
These infrasonids accompany the soundtracks to enhance their effects on the viewer and generate a specific emotional state depending on the genre of the film; thanks to them, composers are able to awaken emotions such as fear or sadness, among others. film “Paranormal Activity”, was used undersonid to ensure viewers experience anxiety and fear in certain scenes in the film.
As you can see, the soundtracks enrich the viewer’s experience in cinema, generate emotions, awaken memories and greatly guide the story. Music is an art with infinite possibilities that multiply if it is associated with the cinematic universe.