Music and Epilepsy

The Connection Between Music and Epilepsy

In the video interview, Dr. Melinda Holliday provides insights on how music can help some people manage epilepsy and seizure disorders. She also explains how music affects different parts of the brain. In the chat with Michael below the video, the question around Mozart is surfaced since Dr. Holliday references the Mozart Effect to manage seizures. While Michael doesn't listen to Mozart, he does find some styles of music produce different results.

A chat with Michael Jackson

Michael sits down with me to answer a few questions about music and stress management.

You built a solid career as a musician in Austin, TX. Where did you play?

It was an awesome time back in the 90s and 2000s for live music in Austin. I played all the time at venues like the Continental Club, Antone's, Saxon Pub, Hole in the Wall, Maria's Tacos...really, just about everywhere.

Do you find that music helps you manage stress?

Yeah, definitely. I always feel good. Playing music is a pleasurable experience. Plus it's a very engaging experience. So it brings me into the moment. And that's it's a big reliever of stress… being in the moment.

Are there certain kinds of music that you like better than others?

Yeah, I do like the blues and 60s rhythm and blues, R&B, soul music as it's called. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, so I have a great affinity for music of that era as well.

Do you feel playing music out at venues or gigs like you did when you were younger, is more difficult now that you're older due to epilepsy?

Definitely. I've found that it takes longer to recover from staying up late. I don't know if that's a thing of age or if it has to do with epilepsy in general, but if I am playing late and I'm up until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning, there's a kind of tipping point. I'll feel it for the next couple of days at least.

In our preliminary conversation, you shared how you see music in colors. Whether that's related to epilepsy or not, could you explain what that's like?

Some people have synesthesia, specifically a type known as chromesthesia. They can perceive colors. I certainly do that when I hear it. Certain sounds will create kind of yellow or orangish or gold bands or swaths of color in my minds. Others will be pink, white or black sometimes blue in the blue or purples spectrum part of the spectrum. And I think it's just an extra sensory experience that some of us are able to have when we listen to music.

Is that stressful or relaxing?

To me, I think it's mostly just interesting and it adds another dimension to it and I enjoy it. I've heard that other people, it's distracting when they hear music, but for me, it's kind of my own personal light show.

Have you ever listened to classical music?

It depends. Classical is such a broad term. It covers hundreds of years of music.

Mozart, for example?

You know, I'm not that familiar with Mozart. But the slower classical music that engages fewer instruments, like a single violin or piano, those tend to be more relaxing to me than full orchestrations. Those can be pretty busy and loud. Like “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven with a massive choir and percussion on top of it, when its done to the fullest extent, tend to be a little bit unnerving to me. Experiencing it live in person is probably a much different experience. And that's what most classical music was composed for because they didn't have recording back then.

What music lifts your spirits or makes you feel good?

Well, there are certain songs from the 80s that I think I definitely bring that feel good feeling. They just kind of almost sound summer to me. “Don't Stop Believin'” by Journey and “Rosanna” by Toto were songs that came out during the summers when I was a kid. And to hear them on the radio was so exciting. I get a little boost back when I hear them now.

Learn more about epilepsy here.