[Lawtan]

I remember a while ago some friends talking about music - one saying something akin to music being "mood-regulating" and the other not liking that sort of statement - from what I understood, it was disturbing because it implied that the person required music to regulate emotions.

I will admit that music does help me deal with sadness/fear. Several songs I like have a "return from a fall" or "get back on your feet" element to them. I don't consider music to -control- emotions, however.

Anyway, what would your thoughts be on the matter?

[Espy]

There's stuff that I listen to to wake up -- they're basically the musical form of caffeine. Obviously my ears are ringing after a bit, buuuuut. I play music to help my mood at times, though. When I'm mad, I'll usually put on something loud and fast, like Ensiferum. I guess it's like venting. It helps me calm down. So in that way, it sort of IS mood-regulating...?

But music is usually "I feel like [this], let's put on music that'll make me feel the opposite" or "Oh, it's [this] kind of day/atmosphere; this music will fit".

[Quiet Man Cometh]

I can imagine music being mood-regulating if one uses it that way. I deal with depression, and I do notice that some songs are uplifting or otherwise helpful in my depressions and I would use them as a sort of anti-depressant, so in that sense it is mood-regulating. Generally speaking though, music simply is, and we react to it as we react to any other emotional stimulus, and is no more regulating than the effect of looking a piece of art or photograph, or hearing a certain statement might have.

[Liethell]

I'm fairly sure music can be used to regulate mood if push comes to shove. Musical therapy is a thing for a reason, after all.

I don't really use music to change or fit my mood though. I've never felt uplifted or depressed by a song or a piece, so perhaps how much music changes you depends on the person.

[Quiet Man Cometh]

Probably. I react to music a lot. Even if I hate the song I'm listening to I usually end up tapping my foot or something. Music I like I tend to really like, music that bothers me, *really* bothers me. I don't typically find it easy to ignore.

[Lawtan]

I sympathize with Quiet, but then again I am sensitive to sound. I am fortunate that I like a broad amount of music.

[Sadrain]

We don't NEED music to regulate our feelings, but it does affect them and even us physically. Music therapy's effects are scientifically proven, as far as I know (but don't beat me, if I'm wrong).

Personally, music has always been my means to help myself. Depressed, desperate songs help me when I feel like that - I sing or hum along, maybe just read the lyrics, and my feelings go with them. Sometimes I'm stuck on the song for days or more.
When I feel better, hopeful, I usually listen to music that has inspirational theme.
I generally prefer lyrics over the song or music itself, but that is not the absolute rule. Pan pipe music, classical, just some instrumental pieces here and there have also helped me with my feelings. Very few times, it's rhythm and voice alone that captures my attention.
But, in the end, I listen to very broad spectrum of genres, artists and have wide collection of one or two random songs by random artists.
Music also is often my inspiration for writing, I find music I associate with character and listen to it and lyrics while I write the profile or replies and it spurs my fantasy. So, yeah, for me music and emotions are very closely related.

[Quiet Man Cometh]

I used to write to music quite frequently, but fell out of the habit for some time. I guess I just haven't found a piece that I can really be inspired by, or that can fit with a character or piece of writing well enough to really work for me. There were times when I would write where I'd have a song or two on repeat and just let the mood flow into the writing.

[Sadrain]

Yes, that's how it is for me at times for characters and things. Sometimes, I go on random tours on youtube and get inspired by songs that I normally would never listen to, but something in rhythm, singer's tone or lyrics suddenly just fit.
There is this one song I feel that fits the backbone emotion of all my officially profiled OCs, my RP style/ideas, too, haha.

[Lawtan]

...And I remember a 6th thing I need to do over the next two weeks...

[Fauxreal]

Isn't there scientific studies about how music affects plants?

[Lawtan]

More than that, apparently :D

(Temporary revival)

How do our brains process music?

Plant Article

On the plant note, proof is still uncertain.

[Arikana]

Forget plants. Music definitely affects brains. In my Recreation II class, my professor inserted a new assignment involving music and dementia where we play music for a resident at our multiple placements and observe how they act at mealtimes when music has been played. The resident I did it on? HUGE DIFFERENCE. So much calmer, not as much yelling, when there was yelling it was so much quieter. This was a great assignment. :)

[Lawtan]

*Bit iffy on experimenting on others (people and animals)...especially with what I've read recently.*

However, I am glad your music experiment cheeredthem up :)

[Arikana]

It's not necessarily experimenting on them. Even if we weren't to crunch the numbers in order to do the research, it's just another opportunity to try and help them improve their daily living.

It's not cheering up the residents with the music, it's helping them improve their daily living. Such as doing basic ADLs (activities of daily living) including eating, dressing, grooming, etc. :3

[Lawtan]

Either way, it is a good piece of research. :3

The above comment was more colored by the things I was really freaking out with last night.