Ep. 4: Music Rewires the Brain (Maegan Morrow, music therapist to Gabby Giffords)

After Gabby Giffords’ horrific shooting in 2011, Maegan Morrow helped her re-learn to speak using music therapy.  Maegan explains how music is used for healing the brain. The brain's ability to pave new pathways around damaged areas is called neuroplasticity. Learn how music generates neuroplasticity superpowers! Among its many benefits, singing strengthens the immune system; increases lung capacity; is a natural anti-depressant; releases endorphins; relaxes and reduces stress levels; expands vocabulary; increases neuroplasticity; trains the ear, resulting in greater empathy when listening due to increased awareness of inflection variations; can reduce asthmatic symptoms by strengthening the lungs (Maegan overcame her need for inhalers through the lung exercise and breath control of opera singing). "Nothing activates the brain so extensively as music." – Dr. Oliver Sacks, whose account of music therapy in Parkinson's disease was the basis for the book and film "Awakenings." Links and notes related to this episode can be found at https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode04   Facebook Page Instagram LinkedIn