Hello All!

I'm back after a series of health setbacks. Fortunately, I've been in great health all my life and recovery is much smoother. Dealing with illness usually means addressing mental and emotional health simultaneously.

This week, I begin a weekly series that blends what ancient and modern science tells us about healing our mental, physical, and emotional health.

As a former psychologist and musician, I feel that I walk between these worlds daily. My purpose is to create sound and share related resources on how important it is when we consider it a part of our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. One of my firm believes is that intentional use of sound can help anyone optimize their overall wellbeing.

A 2,500 year old map

For over 2,500 years, since Pythagoras first mapped the mathematical relationships between sound and harmony, humans have understood that audio frequencies can influence our mental and physical states.

What the ancient Greeks discovered through observation and philosophy, modern neuroscience now validates through brain imaging and physiological measurement.

Today's technology allows us to precisely control frequencies, measure biological responses, and document outcomes in ways Pythagoras could never have imagined.

Music interventions show promise

A recent Medscape article, "Music Strikes a Chord for Brain Health," highlights how music interventions are showing promise in treating neurological conditions—from stroke recovery to dementia care.

Yet the research reveals something profound: while we're documenting measurable neurological changes, the most powerful therapeutic effect may simply be the joy music creates.

Clinical Applications Emerging

Current research shows promising results across several conditions:

Stroke and Speech Recovery: Melodic intonation therapy leverages preserved musical abilities to support language rehabilitation, helping patients access speech through song when traditional pathways are damaged.

Dementia Care: Personalized playlists help maintain identity, elicit memories, and reduce agitation. The emotional resonance of familiar music can reach patients when other interventions fail.

Parkinson's Therapy: Rhythmic auditory cues aid gait training and coordination, using music's temporal structure to support motor function.

Mood Regulation: Music interventions activate reward systems and reduce stress hormone production, creating measurable improvements in anxiety and depression markers.

Beyond the "Playlist Prescription"

Current neuroscience tells us that music engages multiple brain regions simultaneously—reward systems, memory centers, and sensory and motor integration areas. This isn't just cognitive stimulation; it creates shared somatic and emotional experiences that can enhance neuroplasticity and mood regulation.

The dynamic structures of music—rhythm, harmony, melody—mirror our brain's natural rhythmicity, potentially optimizing neural function.

But we're not yet at the point where doctors can simply "prescribe a playlist." Unlike standardized medications, effective sound interventions require attention to cultural relevance, personal preference, emotional readiness, and individual context. Some days we may be open to one title, and other days, another.

The Pythagoras Connection

When he explored sound ratios, Pythagoras wasn't just theorizing—he was documenting reproducible effects. His mathematical approach to harmony laid groundwork for understanding how specific frequencies and intervals create predictable responses.

Although some of this is being challenged, many modern research does validate these ancient observations: certain frequency relationships do indeed promote relaxation, focus, or energetic states. Frequency relatiionships include various chord structures such as major and minor keys (happy vs. sad), quick tempos vs slow (energizing vs calming), etc.

Today's practitioners can apply Pythagorean principles using precise digital tools, for music creation and other effects creating sound-for-health interventions that blend ancient wisdom with contemporary precision. The 432Hz tuning movement, golden ratio intervals, and mathematical sound progressions all trace back to these foundational discoveries.

To help you choose and make notes about the effects of sound on your life or of your clients/patients, I'm developing the Wellsounds database.

A Resource of Wellness Sounds

Late last year I started development of a resource called "The Wellsounds Database". It was an attempt to categorize various music titles according to the potential affect on physical, mental and emotional states. I'm considering bringing it back in Version 2.0 as a resource for anyone who wishes to explore this subject.

The database is a collection of nearly 700 selections spanning pop, classics, hip-hop, ambient, nature sounds and dozens of other categories. I also created a section to track your listening experience and make notes, much like a listening journal.

Categories of Music

Meditation, Stress Relief, Fitness, Sleep, Study, Focus, Motivation, Anxiety Release, and others. (Note: For issues relating to depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health concerns, seek help from a licensed clinical psychologist)

Connected Research

I intend to add related research with the categories for reference.

Here is a screen shot of the product currently in development. I anticipate availability later in the summer (2025).

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Interested?

If this project is of interest, please send me a note describing your interest and any product suggestions you'd like to share. hello@wellsounds.com​

Until next time .....