Sweet

Lullabies are soothing songs sung to children to help them fall asleep. They have been a part of every culture around the world since ancient times.

Brain Waves
Music has an effect on brain wave patterns. There are four types of brain wave patterns. Beta waves are emitted when we are conscious and alert, alpha when we are relaxed, theta when our consciousness is reduced, and delta when we are unconsciousness and/or in deep sleep.

A Restful State

According to a study by Japanese neurologist Dr. Katuro Endo, lullabies can cure insomnia by bringing brain waves to restful states.

Identification

Lullabies often have a simple melody, simple harmonies and a slow tempo that mimics the human heartbeat at rest.

Like Baby Talk

Researchers at the Center for Research in Human Development at University of Toronto found that people from different cultures around the world were able to detect which of two songs was a lullaby on the basis of how similar they resembled characteristics of speech in infants. Lullabies are very similar to baby talk in pitch contour, rhythm and elongated vowel sounds.