The Amazing Health Benefits of Singing (And They’re Backed by Science)

Singing also activates a vast network of neurons in both hemispheres of the brain, activating areas that control language, movement and emotions. This, combined with the focus on breathing that singing requires, makes it an effective way to relieve stress.

“Well-being responses are evident in livelier sounds, facial expressions, and postures,” Street says.

These benefits can have deep roots. Some anthropologists believe that our human ancestors sang before they could speak, using vocalizations to imitate nature sounds or express emotions.

This could have played a key role in the evolution of complex social dynamics, emotional expression and rituals, and Street points out that it is no coincidence that singing is a part of the lives of all humans, whether musically inclined or not, noting that our brains and bodies are primed from birth to respond positively to songs.

“Lullabies are sung to children and then sung at funerals,” he explains. “We learn multiplication tables by singing and the alphabet through rhythmic and melodic structure.”

But not all types of singing are equally beneficial. For example, singing in a group or choir promotes greater mental health than singing alone. For this reason, educational researchers have used singing as a tool to promote cooperation, language development, and emotional regulation in children.

Specialized doctors also turn to singing to improve the quality of life of those suffering from various conditions. Researchers around the world have studied the effects of joining community choirs for cancer and stroke survivors, people with Parkinson’s disease and dementia, and their caregivers. For example, singing improves speech in Parkinson’s patients, something they are known to have difficulty with as the disease progresses.

Singing is also a way to improve overall health, as it has been shown to be an underrated exercise, comparable to brisk walking. “Singing is a physical activity and can have similar benefits to exercise,” says Adam Lewis, associate professor of respiratory physiotherapy at the University of Southampton in the UK.

One study even suggested that singing, along with various vocal exercises performed by professional singers to improve pitch and rhythm, is a heart and lung exercise similar to walking at a moderate pace on a treadmill.

But researchers are also interested in highlighting the often unrecognized benefits of participating in singing groups for the psyche of people with long-term chronic illnesses. Street explains that singing allows these people to focus on what they can do, rather than on what they can’t do.

“Suddenly, there is a sense of equality in the room, where caregivers are no longer caregivers, and healthcare professionals are singing the same song in the same way,” Street says. “And there’s really not much that achieves that.”

Among those who have benefited most from singing are people with chronic respiratory conditions, which has become a major focus of research by Keir Philip, clinical professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London. Philip warns that singing will not cure these diseases, but it can serve as an effective holistic approach that complements traditional treatments.

“For some people, living with dyspnea may change the way they breathe, making it irregular and inefficient,” Philip says. “Some singing-based methods help with this in terms of the muscles used, rhythm and depth (of breathing), which may help improve symptoms.”

One of their most notable studies involved applying a breathing program developed by working with professional singers from the English National Opera as part of a randomized controlled trial in patients with long-term Covid-19. Over the course of six weeks, the results showed that the treatment improved his quality of life and alleviated some aspects of his breathing difficulties.

At the same time, singing is not without risks for people with underlying conditions. Group singing was associated with a widespread event in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, as singing can emit large amounts of viruses into the air.

“If you have a respiratory infection, it is best to miss choir practice this week to avoid exposing others to risk,” says Philip.

But perhaps the most notable benefit of singing is that it appears to contribute to the brain’s self-repair. This was exemplified by the story of former US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived being shot in the head during an assassination attempt in 2011.

Over many years, Giffords learned how to walk, talk, read and write, thanks to therapists who used her childhood songs to help her regain verbal fluency.

Researchers have used similar methods to help stroke survivors regain the ability to speak, as singing can provide the hours upon hours of repetition needed to foster new connectivity between the cerebral hemispheres, which are often damaged after a severe stroke. Singing is also thought to improve the brain’s neuroplasticity, allowing it to rewire and create new neural networks.

There are theories that singing can also help people with cognitive impairment due to the intense demands it places on the brain, requiring sustained attention and stimulating word search and verbal memory.

“There is a growing evidence base supporting the cognitive benefits of singing in older people,” says Thieppo Sarkamo, a professor of neuropsychology at the University of Helsinki in Finland. “However, we still know little about the ability of singing to slow or prevent cognitive decline, as this would require large-scale studies with years of follow-up.”

For Street, all the research demonstrating the powerful effects of singing, both on a social and neurochemical level, underscores why singing is a universal part of human life. However, one concern is that as people spend more and more time connected to technology rather than to each other through activities such as singing, relatively few people are experiencing its benefits.

“We are discovering a lot, especially in the area of ​​brain injury rehabilitation,” he says. Studies are just beginning to show that singing can have these effects, even in people with serious injuries. It is fitting that we benefit greatly, as singing has always played a vital role in connecting communities.

Perhaps this is another reason to enjoy singing Christmas carols around the Christmas tree this year.

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