Music has long been linked to mood, memory, and even healing, but recent research suggests it might also influence something far less expected: the microbes living in and on us.
Studies in animals and humans show that certain kinds of music, especially classical works by Mozart, can shift microbial populations in ways that may benefit health. Here, we’ll look at how music affects the microbiome, what scientists have uncovered so far, and why Mozart’s compositions keep appearing in this research.
What research says about music and microbes
Scientists in China were among the first to explore how music affects the gut microbiome in mice. One study found that playing Mozart’s Flute Quartet in D Major increased levels of Lactobacillus, a beneficial bacterium, which raised gut acidity and made it harder for Salmonella to thrive.
Another experiment showed that dinner music during meals not only boosted Lactobacillus but also reduced harmful bacteria. A third study compared music to white noise and discovered that while Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major improved microbial balance, white noise disrupted it.
The idea that music can alter gut microbes may sound strange, but similar patterns appeared in other contexts. In a Spanish pilot study, researchers looked at whether music affected the oral microbiome in people with age-related cognitive decline and in healthy volunteers. They found that classical music lowered levels of Veillonella and Porphyromonas, two microbes linked with Alzheimer’s disease and neuroinflammation.
Music may help by lowering stress hormones and dampening inflammatory responses, creating a biological environment where beneficial microbes flourish. But it’s also possible that sound waves themselves interact directly with microbial activity. In an Indian experiment, petri dishes filled with E. coli and Staphylococcus reacted to music exposure. Interestingly, heavy metal appeared to stimulate these pathogens the most.
How music is being used beyond mood
These findings may seem niche, but they’re already being tested in practical ways. Agricultural researchers have studied music’s impact on farm animals, showing that calm, melodic music can promote growth and milk production by lowering stress and quieting the immune system.
The potential doesn’t stop with animals. A sewage treatment plant in Berlin even plays Mozart’s The Magic Flute to boost microbial activity and improve waste processing efficiency, reportedly saving thousands of euros each year.
The so-called “Mozart Effect”, first reported in the 1990s, suggested that listening to his music could boost spatial reasoning. While those claims about raising IQ were exaggerated, researchers now believe the effect may have been tied to being emotionally engaged and alert. That state, in turn, may support both mental performance and microbial balance.
For now, the science is still developing. Most evidence comes from animal studies, with human trials still limited and small in scale. But the consistency of results across settings—from lab mice to nursing homes to wastewater plants—makes the idea hard to dismiss.
Music clearly affects the brain and body, and it may also be shaping the microscopic ecosystems that influence digestion, immunity, and cognition. Mozart might not make you smarter, but listening to his music could support both your mood and your microbes.
