How Music Can Be Medicine, with Dr. Dan Levitin

A lot of us reach for music when we’re struggling. Whether we’re going through a breakup or just a rough day, our favorite jams seem to have an almost magical ability to give us relief. But WHY?! What exactly is music doing in the brain that affects how we feel? And how powerful is it? Like, could music actually treat diseases? We dig into these questions with musician, neuroscientist, and professor Dr. Dan Levitin. He wrote a book called “I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine” all about the incredible neuroscience behind music and how it can help with things like depression, pain and even Alzheimer’s disease.

UPDATE 11/6/26: A previous version of this episode incorrectly suggested that aphantasia was discovered recently. The phenomenon was first described in the late 19th century, although the term was only coined in 2015. The episode has been updated.

This episode does mention depression. Here are some crisis hotlines:

United States: US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial 988 (Online chat available); US Crisis Text Line Text “HOME” to 741741

Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Online chat available)

Canada: Call or text 988

United Kingdom: Samaritans 116 123 (UK and ROI)

Full list of international hotlines here

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsMusicAsMedicine

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Intro

(03:04) How music activates the brain

(09:17) The effects of music on mental health and pain

(14:37) The relationship between music and memory

(20:35) Music as medicine for movement disorders

(23:23) Does music really make you smarter?

(27:45) Oddball questions

Credits:

This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman and Ekedi Fausther-Keeys with help from Meryl Horn, Michelle Dang, and Rose Rimler. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact-checking by the Science Vs team. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger and Bobby Lord. Thanks to Michelle Kitchen and Spotify Studios in Los Angeles, as well as Humdinger Studios in Melbourne.

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find us on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

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