Music places an extrinsic role in releasing Dopamine, a mood enhancing chemical.

It is not ground breaking news to hear that music has the ability to improve ones mood but now researchers have produced evidence that music does have to potential to considerably improve moods. Researchers took interest in the chemical Dopamine.

Dopamine is a chemical that when released generates a "feel good" mood. This chemical is released in reference to many different situations; taking cocaine, eating candy, being in love, having lots of money and now it has been found when listening to music.

This is the first study that has tested to see if music can produce the chemical reaction of releasing Dopamine. The study was conducted by scientists from McGill University in Montreal; the study began with a sample group of 217 people and was later narrowed down to 8 people. The sample group was regrettably small due to the fact that participants had to repeatedly experience chills when listening to a piece of music. The researchers tested each participant three times using a Positron emission tomography or PET scan to create a 3D image of the nuclear happenings of the brain.

The first scan was taken while the participant was listening to the music that was highly enjoyable. The second scan was taken when the participants was listening to music that was satisfactory. The third scan was taken when the music changed between both pieces of music. The scans soundly showed that the chemical Dopamine was 9% higher when the participants were listening to music they really enjoyed.

This study has evidence that music can increase someone's mood and in the wider picture music can influence for good. Find ways to incorporate music that you enjoy into your daily activities to brighten your mood and enhance your life.