 Music has been an important part of human society since the beginning of time. Ancient artworks from all cultures show music of one form or another being played as an integral part of celebrations and other rituals. Neuroscientific studies are now showing that humans are hardwired to respond to music. Music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function. And yet, so often we forget about the potential power of music to help us in our daily lives. Here are three ways that music can transform your life. The first way is to use music to change your emotional state. We all know that music has a huge impact on mood. When you watch a movie, the music is used to make you feel scared in a scary movie, sad in a sad story or hopeful in a play. Everyone knows that if we want people to have a good time at a party, we need to choose the right kind of music. So, you too can use music to get yourself in the mood you want. And it's available to you every day. You need a confidence boost before that important presentation or meeting? Put on your confidence booster music. Researchers at McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital have shown that listening to music actually increases the amount of dopamine produced in the brain. You want to get into a state of relaxation and unwinding? Put on some relaxed tunes. You want to cheer yourself up? Play some of your favorite happy songs and sing along to get yourself into a better mood. The second way in which music can transform your life is to manage pain. In 2015, a study of more than 7,000 people who had had surgery found that people who listened to music after their surgery felt less pain and anxiety and were less likely to take pain medicine. This is thought to be because the experience of pain is a very complex and partially subjective experience. Music modulates the brain's limbic system, triggering numerous neurochemical effects, and therefore alters the experience of pain. It can also reduce stress hormone production, making you less stressed and optimistic. The third way in which music can transform your life is in the area of memory and cognition in dementia and Alzheimer's. There is growing evidence that music interventions may help people with different types of dementia not only feel better and act better but also think better. A 2017 study by Innis et al. showed that 60 participants with subjective cognitive decline, who listened to music for 12 minutes a day for three months, had significant improvements in their cognitive performance in areas like attention, decision making, processing speed, and memory. It's clear that music can change our lives in many different ways. It can change how we feel and make us feel better. It can also ease pain and help people with Alzheimer's and dementia remember things and think more clearly. So the next time you're feeling down or in need of a pick me up, crank up the tunes and let the music work its magic. And if you have chronic pain or are losing your memory, you might want to add music therapy to your treatment plan. With music as your ally, the possibilities for transformation are truly endless. Hi, I'm Emmy Golding, Director of Psychology for the Workplace Mental Health Institute. We hope you liked the video. If you did, make sure to give it a thumbs up. We have more and more videos being released each week. So when you subscribe, you'll get a notification letting you know when a new one's just been published. So make sure to hit that subscribe button and don't miss out on this vital information for yourself, your colleagues and your loved ones.