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Michael Bonshor, Course Director, Music Psychology in Education, Performance and Wellbeing, University of Sheffield

Happy songs: these are the musical elements that make us feel good

The music we listen to can have a profound impact on our mood. Merla/Shutterstock

Music has a unique power to affect the way people feel and many people use music to enhance or change their mood, channel emotions and for psychological support.

The strong emotional impact of music is derived from its profound physical and psychological effects. For example, listening to relaxing music often has a positive impact on the autonomic nervous system (which regulates many key bodily functions), by slowing breathing, regulating heart rate, lowering blood pressure and reducing muscle tension.

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