Dr. L. Subramaniam, the globally acclaimed violinist and recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, underscored the universal power of classical music, particularly instrumental music, during his special address at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) held on May 17 in Los Angeles, California.
“I believe that classical music—particularly instrumental music—has greater potential simply because of the universal nature of sound,” Dr. Subramaniam noted. “For instance, when I play a traditional composition on my violin or elaborate a raga, which has been established in the cultural consciousness for centuries, it has the potential to connect to people across languages, beyond borders.”
A trained physician as well as a musical virtuoso, Dr. Subramaniam addressed the gathering of APA, a 40,000-member strong organization, bridging art and science as he explored the neuropsychological basis of music’s impact on the human brain.
Reflecting on his lifelong passion for the violin, he credited his late father, Prof. V. Lakshminarayana, a pioneer in violin-playing techniques, for nurturing his early musical journey.
“Over the years, I realized why it is such a powerful instrument. Being fretless, it can easily bring out the various microtones, and being bowed, it can sustain a note for a long time,” he explained. He highlighted the instrument’s wide musical range, emphasizing its ability to span several octaves and shift from slow to rapid play with ease.
“The sweetness of tone as well as the possibility of dynamics gives an incredible versatility to the violin,” he added.
Dr. Subramaniam further discussed how familiar melodies and rhythms can evoke autobiographical memories, helping individuals reconnect with their identities. “Merely listening to music can be so therapeutic,” he noted.
He explained that the brain’s capacity to process music stems from its unique interpretation of sound waves, essentially vibrations transmitted through air. The auditory process begins when the outer ear captures sound, directing it through the ear canal to the eardrum. Vibrations cause the eardrum to oscillate, setting in motion three tiny bones, “malleus, incus, and stapes.”
“These [bones] help amplify the sound vibrations and transmit them to the snail-shaped cochlea, which lies in the inner ear. The amplified vibrations create waves in the cochlear fluid, which causes the tiny hair cells along the basilar membrane to bend,” he stressed. “This bending action triggers the opening of ion channels, which are essential protein structures embedded in the cell membranes. As a result, the mechanical vibrations are converted into electrical signals.”
These electrical signals then travel via the auditory nerve to the brainstem and ultimately to the auditory cortex, where conscious perception of sound takes place, he added.
Dr. Subramaniam also described this transformation, from external sound waves to emotional resonance, as one of humanity’s most profound experiences. He pointed to the brain’s limbic system, which governs emotions, as central to this phenomenon.
“When we listen to music that we perceive as pleasant, our brain’s reward pathway is activated, which in turns releases dopamine – a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. This is why music feels so rewarding,” he remarked.
He further explained that the amygdala, which processes emotions like fear and pleasure, and the hippocampus, which forms memories, are also activated by music, offering insight into why certain songs can evoke vivid memories or transport us emotionally.
Experience, he added, also shapes our brain’s perception of music. Musicians often show “enhanced neural responses” to sound and may even exhibit “structural differences” in regions tied to “auditory processing and motor control.”
Because of its deep connection to emotional regulation, Dr. Subramaniam asserted that music can serve as a powerful therapeutic tool in addressing mental health challenges. Engaging the “limbic system,” music allows individuals to express and manage their emotions, alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. It may also help reduce physiological markers of stress, such as “cortisol levels and heart rate.”
“When we listen to a charming piece of music, it stimulates the release of dopamine and endorphins, which are associated with pleasure and stress relief. Music provides a non-verbal outlet for processing complex emotions,” he said.
He emphasized that music can offer a healthy distraction from negative thought patterns and act as a safe medium for redirection of attention. Unlike pharmaceutical interventions, music therapy carries no side effects.
Moreover, he suggested that in severe psychiatric conditions where medication is necessary, music can serve as a complementary therapy, enhancing overall treatment outcomes.
