Playing music might actually help people deal with anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. 

(Photo : Photo credit should read LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
The guitarist for French singer Krismenn performs on December 7, 2017 in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande, outside Rennes, as part of the 39th edition of the Trans Musicales music festival. / AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCE

This was revealed by a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Bath. 

Their latest research titled "An RCT study, shows a few weeks of music lessons enhance audio-visual temporal processing," has been published in the Nature journal. 

If you are also suffering from depression or anxiety, here's how playing musical instruments can help you. 

Playing Music Helps People Deal With Depression, Anxiety

For the past years, most studies have only focused on how listening to music can help deal with anxiety and depression. 

Playing music might actually help people deal with anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. 

(Photo : Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)
Auctioneer Karen Fairweather plays a Bechstein piano used by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, while filming their movie "Help!" in 1965, on display at a showroom on March 3, 2014 in Manchester, England. The 1907 Bechstein Concert Grand piano was situated in Twickenham studios from around the 1930's.

Also Read: Lower Your Risk of Falling to Depression Even with Little Exercise-Here Are Apps for It

The new study is quite different as it explains how playing the piano and other musical instruments can also benefit mental illness patients. 

Participants who had no music experience were asked to complete weekly one-hour sessions. After their music sessions were completed, they were asked to play music compositions. 

Based on the study's results, playing music affect how the brain interprets audio-visual information when brain plasticity is decreased. 

Because of this, involved experts concluded that learning music could help individuals suffering from mental illnesses, as reported by WION. 

Best Apps to Learn Music

Although the new study's results are quite promising, many experts said it still needs further research. 

Learning how to play guitar, flute, piano, and other musical instruments can still be beneficial since you will have a new hobby. 

If you have anxiety or depression, it could also help you focus your mind on other things. To help you further, here are some of the best apps that can assist you on your music-learning journey: 

• Yousician (Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS) 
• Fender Play (Web, iOS, and Android) 
• Vanido (iOS exclusive) 
• Simply Guitar (iOS and Android) 
• Harmony City (iOS and Android) 

If you want to learn more details about these music-teaching apps, you can click here. 

Aside from playing music, recent studies also revealed more ways how to deal with depression. 

Previously, new research claims that taking a dose of magic mushrooms can treat severe depression. 

Experts also consider VR treatments for mental illnesses. 

For more news updates about depression and other mental health conditions, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.  

Related Article: Non-Invasive Electrical Stimulation of the Eye May Be Effective to Treat Neuropsychiatric Diseases