We all know the feeling of putting on Pink Floyd and being transported to another dimension.
But it turns out there might be more than just a psychedelic trip happening—scientists now say that listening to the band could actually have a measurable effect on your brain cells, potentially helping future treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The Study That Turned Up the Volume on Brain Activity
Researchers at the Israel Institute of Technology decided to put this to the test.
They played Pink Floyd’s 1979 classic Another Brick In The Wall to both human volunteers and mice, carefully monitoring the impact on their brains.
What they discovered was fascinating: the low-frequency sounds in the song caused brain cells to “vibrate” and triggered certain parts of the brain to “light up,” indicating increased activity and the release of key proteins.
This heightened activity, the team suggests, could help scientists deliver medication directly to the brain more effectively—something that has long been a challenge due to the protective blood-brain barrier.
Breaking Through the Blood-Brain Barrier
The blood-brain barrier is a thin membrane that shields brain cells from harmful substances in the blood.
While crucial for protecting our minds, it also blocks most drugs from reaching the brain, making treatment for neurological conditions tricky.
One promising solution has been the use of microscopic bubbles called lipid nanoparticles.
These tiny carriers, used in Covid vaccines to deliver genetic material, are so small that thousands could fit across the width of a human hair.
Now, the study shows that low-frequency sounds—like the ones in Pink Floyd’s music—can make brain cells more active, boosting the absorption and effectiveness of these nanoparticles in the brain by up to ten times.
Music as a Gentle, Non-Invasive Medical Tool
“This is similar to the way you feel the thump-thump-thump of bass in a dance hall vibrating through your body.
That same effect is happening in the brain when Pink Floyd is played,” explained Professor Avi Schroeder, who led the research alongside Dr. Patricia Mora-Raimundo.
The researchers believe that low-frequency sound could become a valuable tool for enhancing drug delivery to specific areas of the brain.
It opens up exciting possibilities for precision medicine, where sound waves are tailored to activate particular brain regions for targeted treatment of neurological disorders.
Implications for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Treatments
Currently, treatments for degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are limited, primarily slowing the progression rather than reversing damage.
One of the most promising approaches is gene therapy, which aims to boost healthy brain cells or repair faulty genes.
Lipid nanoparticles could play a crucial role in delivering these therapies effectively.
In the study, human volunteers listened to various types of music at different frequencies while undergoing MRI scans.
Pink Floyd’s hit stood out as the most effective at creating activity in key areas of the brain, highlighting a fascinating intersection between art, science, and medicine.
The Future of Sound-Enhanced Brain Therapy
While we’re still far from prescribing Pink Floyd as a medical treatment, these findings suggest that music could one day become a gentle, non-invasive way to enhance therapies for brain diseases.
From vibrational basslines to intricate melodies, the power of sound might just hold the key to unlocking new ways to heal the mind.