Play by Stuart Brown MD

I just finished reading Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown, MD the founder for the National Institute of Play.  His observation confirm the need for humans and animals to play. He provides pictures of a polar bear and a sled dog playing together at the same time for several days while the polar bear waits for proper ice flow conditions.

He notes that play is essential for children for brain development. In adults a play deficit results in a darkened mood and a reduced ability to feel pleasure. Play appears to improve brain function and optimism. Play is best when there is movement. Incorporating play and movement in the treatment of depression has had positive results.

He differentiates play where both people work to keep an activity going to activity initiated by a person who is a player. That person engages others in play for their own interest and not for the mutual benefit others. As an example he relays the pickup football game that he played in Chicago while growing up. The kids made up the rules and changed them to compensate for some players with limited abilities. A friend of mine who was a good ping pong player would play me left handed to make it a competitive match.  He recommends self organized play by children over strictly organized play by adults.

He encourages adults to allow some rough and tumble play between students within some broad boundaries. Students need to learn the limits of play and friendly teasing through interaction with others and not through severe restriction on behaviors. Rough and tumble play is characterized by laughter

At the end of the book he concludes: "Play is the purest expression of love. When enough people raise play to the status it deserves in or lives, we will find the world a better place."

What is play - Stuart Brown MD - 8 min.

The Neuroscience of Play - 72 minutes

Play is more than fun - 15 minutes

Why You Love Music: From Mozart to Metallica by John Powell

John Powell the physicist and part time musician wrote Why You Love Music: From Mozart to Metallica--The Emotional Power of Beautiful Sounds as a follow up to his book How Music Works: The Science and Psychology of Beautiful Sounds, from Beethoven to the Beatles and Beyond. He wanted the general reader to get a basic understanding of both the physics and the psychological effects of music.

With delightful British wit he aptly explains why we like chords and specific note progressions. His dive into the psychological literature offers up some studies showing how types of music influence the purchase of either French or German wine with French music driving French wine sales.  Music can even influence the perceived taste of wine. In one study a wine was both judged the worst and the best wine with order and background music the only variables.

He also noted the ability of music to cause the production of various neurotransmitters, serotonin, and dopamine. Music can be an important therapy in pain management. By stringing songs in a particular order and at the appropriate volume it can also assist people with getting to sleep.  With my MP3 player I can string together a series of songs and the player will automatically turn off when the set is done. This has helped me sleep when I am awaken during the middle of the night and need to get back to sleep.

Musical instruments as old as 40,000 years old made from the bone of a vulture can still play familiar tunes. He suggests that music was important in parental bonding with children as the parent will sing to their baby to help them control their emotions.

40,000 year old instrument plays a familiar tune

How music works - 4 minutes

Why we love music - 6 min. 

The physics behind the psychology of music - 6 min.