How Classical Music Changes Facial Expression: The Neuroscience of Deep Listening

There are scenes that repeat themselves again and again in concert halls, rehearsal rooms and quiet evenings at home. A person sits almost motionless, leaning forward just a little, listening to music. At some point their face changes – it becomes softer, warmer, more open. The gaze turns inward, the jaw lets go of an invisible tension, and the breath begins to move with the musical phrases.

This state is easy to recognise but difficult to describe. It is not simple joy and not quite emotional overwhelm. It feels more like a return to oneself – quiet, deep, without excessive drama.

And although it may look like magic, behind it stands a very concrete physiology: music can change the work of the nervous system, hormones, breathing, heart rhythm and even micro-expression.

How music returns the brain to a state of inner safety

When we listen to music, the first to respond is not consciousness but the body. The process begins in the autonomic nervous system – the part that silently regulates heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and muscular tone.

Slow instrumental music with gentle dynamics often lowers heart rate, stabilises breathing and enhances parasympathetic activity – the processes responsible for recovery. In studies where participants listened to baroque music with a tempo of about 60–70 bpm, researchers observed reduced cortisol levels and a more even breathing pattern.

As breathing becomes deeper, facial muscles inevitably relax: tension in the jaw decreases, the forehead stops tightening, and the eyes soften. From the outside it looks like bliss, but in fact it is the physiology of safety.

Why the brain experiences pleasure – and why this pleasure is gentle

In 2011 a team of Canadian neuroscientists used PET scanning to show how music affects the dopaminergic system. They found that emotionally powerful music does not produce a single burst of pleasure but two distinct peaks:

• during anticipation – when the brain predicts that “something beautiful” is about to happen;
• during the musical climax – when that moment finally arrives.

This double mechanism of prediction and fulfilment creates a special type of enjoyment – not impulsive and not draining. It is very different from the sharp dopamine spikes triggered by sugar, betting or endless scrolling.

The “musical” dopamine wave is softer, wave-like, deeper. When it passes through us, the face responds accordingly: not with agitation, but with a calm half-smile and a quiet light in the eyes.

The structure of sound the brain reads as order

Classical music is a rare form of complexity that does not break things apart but organises them. It almost always contains a clear logic: theme, development, pause, return, resolution. Even when the composer breaks the rules, it happens inside a form.

For the brain, which constantly searches for structure, this is a signal of safety. Studies of cardiorespiratory synchronisation show that rhythmic patterns can influence breathing and heart rate, and that predictable musical phrasing helps the body “fall into the rhythm”.

Baroque pieces, especially those around 60–80 bpm, sometimes align with alpha brain waves – the state of calm, clear wakefulness that many people describe as “a gentle inner light”.

Music as a space where emotions can mature

Emotions do not disappear under the influence of music – they actually become more accessible, warmer and less compressed. Music activates the amygdala, hippocampus, insula and prefrontal cortex – regions involved in emotion, memory and integration of bodily sensations.

In everyday life we often hold emotions in the body – in the neck, the diaphragm, the corners of the mouth. Under the influence of music these tensions can slowly rise to the surface and melt, without sudden shocks or breakdowns.

That is why, in the middle of listening, a person often looks as if “something has melted” inside. It is not exaggeration: it is a normal reaction of a nervous system that finally stops over-controlling itself.

How to choose music to soothe the nervous system: an extended guide

The relaxing effect of music does not depend only on tempo or genre. The nervous system responds to a far more complex combination of characteristics. Before we move to concrete recommendations, it is worth asking: what kind of music is calming at the level of neurophysiology?

These are the core parameters that matter most to the brain.

Musical characteristics that support relaxation

Tempo between 55 and 75 beats per minute

This range is close to a calm resting heart rate. Music in this tempo can lock in with pulse and breathing, making it easier for the body to shift into a parasympathetic, restorative mode.

However: not every slow piece is relaxing – stability of tempo also matters.

Predictable musical structure

After hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, the brain has learned to trust regular patterns and to feel unsafe in chaos. When a musical phrase is logical, repetitive and reasonably symmetrical, the body can “sink” into a deeper level of rest.

Low density of sound layers

Very dense polyphony, heavy orchestration or simply too many instruments can overload the auditory cortex. For relaxation it is usually better to choose:

• solo instruments;
• duos;
• small ensembles;
• minimalist orchestral textures.

Smooth, “breathing” melody

Melodies with large, frequent jumps tend to increase arousal and draw sharp attention. Melodies that move gradually, in small intervals, naturally calm the system.

Soft timbres and spectral clarity

The most soothing instruments are often:

• strings;
• piano;
• harp;
• organ in gentle registration;
• flute or oboe.

Acoustically, these timbres have a more harmonically ordered spectrum.

Little or no vocals

Lyrics activate language networks in the brain, increasing cognitive load. For deep rest, instrumental music usually works better than songs with words.

Slow, smooth development without sharp contrasts

The nervous system relaxes only when it does not anticipate sudden change. Music with a gentle, even arc of development creates exactly that environment.

Once these basic characteristics are clear, we can turn to practical examples.

Music that helps to release acute tension

When the body is tight and breathing is shallow, music works best if it:

• has a slow tempo;
• uses even dynamics;
• leaves space between phrases;
• keeps the texture light.

For example:

• slow movements from Bach’s concertos;
• Albinoni – Adagio;
• Marcello – Oboe Concerto (slow movements).

Such music easily synchronises with breathing and helps to soften the “tone of anxiety”.

Music for emotional warmth

When you need not only to relax but also to feel inner tenderness, these pieces can help:

• Claude Debussy – Clair de Lune;
• Maurice Ravel – Pavane pour une infante défunte;
• Gluck – Dance of the Blessed Spirits.

Smooth melodic lines and gentle timbres activate emotional circuits without overstimulation.

Music for clarity and focus

This is not relaxation in the sense of “sleepiness” but a calm, assembled state. Structured music with a clear form gathers the nervous system.

For example:

• Mozart – Piano Concertos No. 20 and 21;
• Mozart – Eine kleine Nachtmusik (slow movements).

The brain reads this structure as order.

Evening unwinding after a heavy day

When the nervous system is overstimulated, music with a minimalist texture and very slow development works best:

• Chopin – Nocturnes;
• Satie – Gymnopédies;
• Arvo Pärt – Spiegel im Spiegel.

These pieces quietly switch off sensory overload.

The main trap: confusing “favourite” with “soothing” music

What we love is not always what calms us. Favourite tracks are often tied to memories, identities and strong emotions, and can stimulate rather than relax.

For real nervous system support, it is worth choosing music not only by taste but by what the body needs at this particular moment.

What we know for sure – and where science stops

The scientific picture today looks like this:

• music can reduce physiological markers of stress;
• slow instrumental pieces can stabilise cardiovascular and respiratory patterns;
• music activates emotional and reward circuits in the brain;
• responses to music are highly individual and context-dependent;
• there is no universal “perfect” playlist for everyone.

But one thing is clear: when you feel yourself “softening” and your face becomes gentler, it is not your imagination. It is your brain briefly returning to its natural state – a state of safety, order, predictability and beauty.