HOUSTON – Many of us have heard that theory that classical music is good for our brains. Turns out there is growing evidence and scientific research to support this idea.
Dr. Mei Rui, an internationally-acclaimed pianist who was just three years old when she first started playing piano, was accepted into the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at age six and then went on to perform with some of the greatest musicians all over the world. After earning dual degrees in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Music from Yale, Dr. Rui began her career in medicine.
Today, in addition to performing regularly, she is a brain researcher in the Texas Medical Center. Through innovative clinical trials and live concerts, Dr. Rui has spent her career studying the positive impacts music -- and specifically classical music -- can have on the brain.
“Being able to quantitatively capture the immersive impact music has on our brain, on our physiology, stress hormones, our blood, the plasma and serum level -- that really blew my mind,” said Dr. Rui.
A lover of music, Dr. Rui says she always knew intuitively that music had a positive impact on her own stress levels, but to see the data and research was eye-opening.
Tonight at Asia Society Texas you can catch a special performance experiment with Dr. Rui. “Your Brain on Beethoven” begins at 7:30pm and will feature Dr. Rui along with world-renowned violinist Cho-Liang Lin and cellist Nicholas Tzavaras.