Music and the Teenage Brain: Reducing Stress Through Brainwave Alignment

This research explores how music can help teenagers regulate stress by aligning brainwave activity and engaging multiple regions of the brain. Adolescence is a stage where emotional responses are heightened due to an active amygdala and an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, often leading to stress, mood swings, and difficulty with emotional regulation. By studying the effects of different genres and frequencies of music on mood, heart rate, and self-reported emotions, this paper highlights how specific types of music can reduce cortisol, enhance dopamine, and improve focus, memory, and motivation. A structured observation of ten songs across genres including lofi, EDM, hip hop, emotional pop, and classical demonstrates measurable changes in physiological and emotional states. This research also introduces the development of an AI-based platform that recommends music based on mood, with the aim of making personalized music therapy more accessible for teenagers, schools, and wellness programs.