As a surgeon, I have witnessed the profound ways music can influence the brain, body, and spirit. This is true not just in patients, but in the entire medical team. Music is more than background sound; it is a form of therapy, a rhythm that can guide the mind toward focus, calm, and resilience. Whether we are speaking of a child on the autism spectrum, a family struggling with trauma, or a team of clinicians in the operating room, music opens a pathway to connection and healing.
Music and the Brain
Neuroscience reveals that music is not merely processed as sound. It activates widespread networks across the brain, from areas responsible for emotion and memory to those governing movement and executive function. Programs such as The Listening Program® have demonstrated how carefully designed, rhythmic music can help calm the nervous system, spark communication, and build resilience. For children on the autism spectrum, consistent listening practices have been shown to reduce meltdowns, improve self-regulation, and foster clearer connections with family and peers.
For children who have experienced trauma, traditional strategies of rewards and consequences often fall short. Their brains may be locked in survival mode, unable to access calm or focus. Music offers a trauma-responsive tool. It helps regulate the nervous system, gently shifting it from a state of stress to one of safety, and making space for healing.
Even executive function, those invisible threads of focus, flexibility, and planning that allow children to thrive, can be strengthened through music. Rhythmic listening and movement create experiences that build the brain’s capacity for attention, problem-solving, and resilience. Simply put, music can rewire the pathways that allow children to learn, connect, and grow.
Music in the Operating Room
The operating room is one of the most intense environments in the medical field. Every second matters, and the focus of the surgical team can determine the outcome of a life. In that environment, music plays a surprising but vital role.
I often choose carefully what plays in the background when I operate. The right music has the power to calm the team, reduce stress, and foster a sense of unity among everyone present. For me, it sharpens focus, helping me maintain steady precision even through long and complex procedures. For others in the OR, music creates a shared rhythm, a quiet current that steadies the hands, eases fatigue, and enhances collaboration.
But music in the OR is not just about reducing stress. It is about setting the emotional tone of the room. Upbeat rhythms can energize a team through a challenging moment, while softer, contemplative melodies can quiet tension and restore calm. Just as music regulates a child’s nervous system, it can regulate the collective mood of the operating room.
A Bridge Between Science and Humanity
The beauty of music lies in its dual nature. It is at once scientific and deeply human. Neuroscience shows us how it reshapes pathways in the brain, yet its true impact is often felt in the heart. It helps children find their voice, families find hope, and clinicians find focus.
In my own practice, I have seen how music can transform an operating room into a space not only of technical precision but also of calm intention. Beyond surgery, I see the promise it holds for children and families, whether through structured programs like The Listening Program® or simply by introducing rhythm and melody into daily routines. At its core, music is a connection. It connects neurons in the brain, but it also connects people: patients to caregivers, children to parents, and surgeons to their teams. In medicine and in life, this connection is the foundation of healing.
Originally published on Empathy Innovations Foundation.
