Good Vibrations

Stefan Koelsch is an internationally leading neuroscientist and music psychologist. He earned degrees in violin, psychology, and sociology before receiving his doctorate from the Max Planck Institute. He has held positions at Harvard University and is currently a professor at the University of Bergen, Norway.

'Good Vibrations is an intellectually far-reaching book that blends state-of-the-art scientific knowledge with practical guidelines for harnessing music's potential to boost human health and flourishing. Its pages buzz with tales of discovery from the lab and clinic, as told by a leading pioneer in the field of music neuroscience.' Peter Keller, Professor at the Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University

• Preface; Introduction: effects of music on health; Part I. A World Without Music Would Be a World Without Humans: 1. Why humans would not have survived evolution without music; 2. Our innate sense of music – even non-musicians are musical; 3. Music and language in the brain; 4. Our engagement shapes our brain; Part II. Music and Emotions: A Life with Music is a Longer Life: 5. How Does Music Evoke Emotions?; 6. Dance of the hormones to the beat of the music; 7. Music versus obstructing our natural healing powers; Part III. What Happens in the Brain when Music Evokes Emotions?: 8. Emotions in the brain-how music truly affects us; 9. What is an emotion?; 10. Morning dance; Part IV. How Music Helps with Illness: 11. Stroke; 12. Alzheimer's dementia-pioneering neural therapy; 13. Parkinson's disease-shall we dance?; 14. Autism; 15. Chronic pain; 16. Addiction-music over chocolate; 17. Non-organic sleep disorders; 18. Depression; 19. How This Book Led Me to a Music Recipe for Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder; In Conclusion: at a glance; Music meditation; Engaging in physical activity with music; Negative side effects of music; Emergency help for negative emotions and moods; Concluding remarks.