Erik Johansson. They put a radical theory to test in the early 1980s and have only recently published the results. Between 1982 and 1991, they conducted an exhaustive study on the effects of cultural activities, including going to concerts and listening to music, and its affect on a person's longevity. They tracked over 12,000 volunteers over this nine year period. The December 21, 1996 issue of the British Medical Journal finally published their long-awaited results. Although inconclusive, the three researchers speculate that "attendance at cultural events may have a positive influence on survival." (Bygren 1577) They reported that "of the 12,675 people, mortality rates eight to nine years after being interviewed were higher in those who rarely attended or participated in performance arts, including music. After controlling for confounding variables [by which they meant smoking, exercise, etc.], people who attended cultural events frequently had a better chance of survival than rare attendees." (Bygren 1581) They hypothesize that music and other cultural activity may stimulate the brain to kick the immune system into higher gear, thereby reducing a person's chance for disease contracting and contribute to his overall healthiness. Their research has stirred the scientific community into shock, and they promise to conduct further studies to verify their tentative findings.If further research merits their hypothesis, they will have revolutionized the field of music and brain sciences. No longer will scientists be content with just probing the human brain. More and more researchers will begin to study the effects of music on other body systems in an attempt to prolong human life. But if not, if their research proves to be just a coincidence, music and brain research will not die out with that. There is still so little we know about the effects of music on the human brain, even after our years of exhaustive research. New devel...
