By Paul Angers
Patients report reduced pain and anxiety through music.
For decades, scientists have explored whether sound frequencies can influence the human body – sometimes for harm, as attempted during World War II, and sometimes for healing. Today, researchers ask a compelling question: If sound can disrupt cellular balance, can rhythm and frequency also restore equilibrium and promote better health?
The Oxford Concise Dictionary defines music as “the art of combining sounds with a view to beauty of form and expression of emotion.”
Yet music has proven to be much more than art – it has become a recognized instrument for emotional well-being and physical healing.
Thousands of patients report that music played a significant role in reducing pain, easing anxiety, and supporting their recovery from chronic conditions. Dr. Dale Taylor, author of Biomedical Foundations of Music as Therapy, documented how music therapy influences behavior, cognitive development, emotional processing, and physiological healing in both adults and children.
But how does this actually work inside the human body?
What Happens Inside Us When We Listen to Music—Especially Samba?
Anyone who has listened to a favorite samba, feeling that irresistible mix of joy and saudade, knows that music can transport us emotionally. Musicians often describe moments of performance as transcendent, almost therapeutic. So the question becomes:
Do musicians become healers through their music? Or do listeners become the doctors of their own emotional state simply by surrendering to rhythm?
Science and philosophy meet in the middle. Ancient cultures – including shamans, healers, and Afro-Brazilian traditions – have long known that music triggers deep emotional and spiritual responses. But modern science is revealing why this happens.
The Brain’s Natural Pharmacy
Candace Pert, Visiting Professor at Rutgers University and a pioneer in psychoneuroimmunology, explains that our brain acts like a biochemical pharmacy. It releases neurotransmitters and peptides—chemical messengers that shape our emotions, reactions, and even immune responses.
Some key neurotransmitters affected by music include:
- Dopamine (pleasure and reward)
- Serotonin (mood and emotional balance)
- Melatonin (sleep and relaxation)
- Epinephrine / Adrenaline (energy and alertness)
- Acetylcholine (cognition and memory)
When linked together, they form neuropeptides such as endorphins and oxytocin – chemicals that promote bonding, happiness, pain relief, and a sense of well-being.
So, did Tom Jobim know he was activating neurochemical cascades when he wrote bossa nova? Do samba schools realize that their drums and rhythms release powerful chemicals that influence every dancer and listener? Maybe not consciously – but the science says it happens.
Music and the Immune System
Our immune system must stay in balance – neither too weak nor hyperactive. According to research compiled by Eric Jensen, author of Music with the Brain in Mind, music plays a role in supporting this balance. Jensen cites studies showing that music can:
- Lower cortisol, the stress hormone
- Increase interleukin-1, a key immune booster
- Raise antibody levels in children exposed to singing and instrumental play
This means music—especially rhythmic music like samba—can enhance immunity, emotional resilience, and overall well-being.
Noel Rosa: The Sambista-Physician
Samba can trigger joy, nostalgia, and emotional release.
The legendary Brazilian musician Noel Rosa was once a medical student. He memorized lessons by turning them into music. Although he left medical school, his nearly 250 sambas may have helped heal far more hearts than he would have in a clinic.
As Noel himself wrote:
“Meu samba, em feitio de oração”
(My samba, shaped like a prayer.)
The Modern Revival: Music for Wellness
Promoting wellness through music is ancient, but understanding the science behind it is modern. Christine Stevens, a leader in recreational music and drumming for wellness, unites ancient wisdom with neuroscience.
Her approach to percussion includes:
- Accessibility
- Emotional expression
- Aesthetic pleasure
- Physical engagement
- Spiritual connection
- Fun, play, and community
- Transformation beyond perceived limitations
Research from Taylor and Jensen shows these elements are exactly what stimulate the neurotransmitters and peptides needed for mental clarity, stress reduction, emotional healing, and overall health.
Why Samba Is a Wellness Superpower
Samba’s unique mix of frequencies, rhythms, harmonies, and lyrics activates an emotional landscape filled with joy, nostalgia, energy, melancholy, sensuality, and excitement. For millions of people worldwide, samba provides:
- Emotional release
- Stress relief
- Joy and connection
- Cultural identity
- Physical movement
- Spiritual uplift
From percussion to voice, from melody to poetry, samba floods the brain with neurochemicals linked to happiness, resilience, and well-being. Samba is rhythm, emotion, culture – and, perhaps, a form of natural medicine.
* Paul Angers is a musician, educator, and global performing artist whose career has taken him to 26 countries. His work spans numerous films, albums, and international collaborations. Paul holds a Master of Arts in Human Development and serves as an adjunct professor at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California.
Besides his academic work, Paul Angers is a respected Drum Circle facilitator
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
How does music affect mental health?
Music influences neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which regulate mood, stress, and emotional balance.
Can samba music really improve wellbeing?
Yes. Samba’s rhythms stimulate physical movement, emotional expression, and neurochemical release, promoting joy and reducing stress.
Does music have proven health benefits?
Studies show music can reduce cortisol, improve immune responses, elevate mood, and support cognitive function.
Why does rhythmic drumming affect the body so strongly?
Drumming activates brain regions tied to motor coordination, emotional regulation, and the release of endorphins.
Is music therapy scientifically supported?
Yes. Music therapy is used in hospitals, mental health programs, and wellness settings to help patients manage pain, anxiety, and emotional trauma.
6. Does listening to samba trigger the same chemicals as dancing to it?
Listening triggers many of the same neurotransmitters, but dancing amplifies the effect through physical movement and social interaction.
