Neuroscientists Uncover Why the Brain Enjoys Music

Fascinating articles in regard to music and the brain, music and learning , music and the listener. Music and emotions, what is it like without hearing music, hearing in general, particularly in individual cases. Fascinating. Many personal examples , am sure

Sorry this is a real “Captain Obvious” conclusion.
People like music because it stimulates the area of the brain producing pleasure.
Sorry but that’s a real “Duh!” observation.
Of more interest would be the “why” such auditory stimulation provokes a pleasure response.
Take a kitten’s purr – most people find that a pleasurable sensation. But why?
People also take pleasure in birdsong. But *why*? They do not appear to convey any benefit to survival.
So – let’s do some real research and stop restating the obvious.

My experience is that of a combination for a lock.

Based on past musical experiences I hear sections of things that I identify as likable and the desire to hear it expands from there.

I love Soundcloud House Tracks because I let it play in the background only half listening to what’s on while I work. I refer to it as “wandering the stacks.” When something plays that I like it pushes to the forefront of my consciousness and I stop what I’m doing and look at the song. If after listening to it with more focus I really like it I’ll save the song to my library. After which it isn’t uncommon for me to put the song on repeat and listen to it dozen’s of times in a row. This generally lasts for a few days before I move on to something else.

I also have a very strong association with hardcore and death metal bands and lifting weights. It’s possible the association is psychosomatic but I feel that certain passages in certain songs literally make me physically stronger. I rarely listen to this genre of music outside of the gym. But when I’m lifting weights there are passages, usually a solo where a switch trips in my mind and I get a momentary rush, similar to perhaps the trance state of a Berserker.

I’ll say again that it’s entirely possible that it’s something I just made up but at least for me the effect is very real. If I’m trying for a heavy lift of a weight I’ve never done, or that I’m nervous about I won’t attempt it without the music. And more often than not when the moment comes to explode and push the weight the solo drops and I have a sense that my arms are electrified, the bar goes up, and comes down.

I also have a very strong response to the relaxing effects of certain types of music where a simple sequence of tones are played over and over, these types of videos are common on Youtube.

And finally I prefer to always have music playing in the background of whatever I’m doing, instrumental jazz is a common favorite, as are the Chillhop compilations. If I sit down to dinner without background music on I’ll feel like something is wrong and get up and go put it on.

I know people experience enjoyment from music, these studies talk about the dopamine response the brain receives, but for me it’s more like a scaffolding underpinning my life.

Yes there is pleasure, but I’d compare it as being more aligned with something like food, or water. Less that I enjoy it and more that it’s something I need it to live.

Found what the disorder is called – amusia. They could perhaps start there …though I would think it’s likely there’s ongoing research being done already.

Great!

You have told us HOW the brain enjoys music, not why.People like listening to music more than silence is hardly groundbreaking research in my opinion. I believe music is intrinsic to the universe, like Mathematics, so humans are hardwired to enjoy it.

“Despite no obvious biological benefits, humans love music”. This statement is a clear sign that the author of this article obviously have too little insight to be writing such an article.

Music is composed of a vast spectre of naturally occurring sounds and sound phenomena, that have had obvious biological benefits.

Take the simple example of a tone rising in pitch, used extensively in electronic music. It creates a huge emotional response of positive expectations and positive feelings. Why? For thousands of years humans have filled hollow objects with water. Everytime creating the signature rising pitch, and everytime creating positive emotion.

All of these small sound phenomenons that have had biological significance, combined results in the complex thing we call “music”.

An interesting biological effect of music is its vibration frequencies in relation to involuntary muscles. Restaurants can benefit from fast beat yet relaxing. The GI tract somehow digest faster when we listen to faster beats. And it digests slower with slower beats. Music is very powerful as it’s vibration with mathematical formulation. It can provoke anger and suggest lust. Or, how of you look at hymnals or Hallelujah Chorus, the sounds suggest awe, reverence gratefulness. This has something to do with the distance of notes with each other or interval. So for church music only certain compositions used to be accepted. Now, suggestive lust music, like singing to a girlfriend or boyfriend is sung at a worship service, which to me is just weird. Bach would have never approved. Its either, have a love song but do not weaken the lyrics into hollow, shallow generic lustful junk at church, oh man Jesus would have flipped the tables there like He did. Its plainly irreverently done. OR write the appropriate church interval formula with sappy, sweet adoration for God. That is great contrast. Which I know it when a smart, balanced church songwriter-singer would fashion. When I hear even the lustful words (that is supposedly applies to God but interchangeable for a human lover) paired with lustful vibe at church or Pandora: I skip it!!! My brain rejects it and do not perceive it as a reward. No endorphins on that…but just like most, music is a must for me at least.

Music is the greatest subliminal influencer. So let’s be careful what you absorb. EDM in the morning. Or we call it “Moving Music”.

There is a guy on a show, who would ask what was the latest songs any individual’s been listening to. He, then, would tell that person what’s been going on in their life with details…He strikes me to be a mentalist or could he be just harping on “you are what you listen to” kind of ordeal? Well, this could also be the case of “self-fulfilling prophesy”. So lets be very becareful what we let in our little ears. My nephew has Aspergers and he is great with guitars. He loves heavy metal. So I love that he loves music. However, I had to warn him lovingly (after over and over listening first to many of his practiced metal songs…”you have to gain grounds before you throw dirt”…) So, about the heavy metal vibe, I love it too! But the message that normally comes with it is, blood, bones and death! So if one listens to a line, words, lyrics that is destructive to self or others…there is a probability of it to HARMonize (no pun intended) with his brain waves…and the power of the subconscious cannot be underestimated. It’s called auto suggestion, I explained to him. It carries what we tell ourselves to action. It is neutral. So if its really negative. Dont repeat or dwell. It’s literally a bad vibe that can pair like bluetooth with your brain waves. It can shape one’s thoughts, one’s destiny. Music/Words + neuroplasticity= Your choices, your result. You’ve got that power. Because you are a child of the most powerful Creator. In the beginning was the WORD. (Word has weight, the first form of music aside from nature is chanting) GEnerate your genesis! You are not just an organical being but also an electrical being). Sounds magical? You’re sophisticatedly designed, but from ashes to ashes. You’ve got charge…and you’re in charge. Hope this added value to someone.❤

… well, because it is a music..

Wrong research. Pop isn’t music 🙂