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Jan 12, 2015 · Music impacts us in ways that other sounds don’t, and for years now, scientists have been wondering why. Now they are finally beginning to find some answers. Using fMRI technology, they’re discovering why music can inspire such strong feelings and bind us so tightly to other people.
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Feb 4, 2016 · In one study published in Nature Neuroscience, led by Zatorre, researchers found that dopamine release is strongest when a piece of music reaches an emotional peak and the listener feels...
- Brian Resnick
Sep 20, 2023 · Ever wondered why you’re drawn to music? It’s not just about catchy tunes. From historical roles to emotional impact, music’s influence on our lives is profound. You’ll discover its effect on mood, mental health, social bonding, memory, education and cultural identity.
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When we listen to pleasurable music, the “pleasure chemical” dopamine is released in the striatum, a key part of the brain’s reward system. Importantly, music activates the striatum just like other rewarding stimuli, such as food and sex. During anticipation of the peak – or “hotspot” as music psychologist John Slobodacalls it – in the music, dopam...
Music is a complex phenomenon – it affects us in multiple ways, and is used for many purposes. While pleasure is a popular reason for music listening, we are also drawn to music for other reasons. Sometimes the music isn’t pleasant at all. Our attraction, our need, and sometimes perhaps dependence on sad, angry or even frightening music flies in th...
We listen to music that makes us feel like this for many reasons. We can use it to help express how we’re feeling – sometimes this might make the problem worse (such as when we use music to ruminate), but other times it helps to give voice to an emotion we otherwise could not communicate. As a result, we may feel more emotionally aware or stable af...
- Nikki Rickard
- Charming the opposite sex. Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that sexual selection played a role in the origin of music. For Darwin, music had no survival benefits but offered a means of impressing potential partners, thereby contributing to reproductive success.
- Musical instinct. We are all born with the capacity to be active musicians. Newborn babies acquire music before language. During the first few months, infants and their mothers communicate in a highly expressive (musical form).
- Music as a universal language. Music is often regarded as a ‘language of emotions.’ People who have difficulty expressing their feelings in words sometimes feel more comfortable expressing these emotions through music.
- Emotion regulation. Music can regulate mood (cheer us up or calm us down), influence shopping decisions, and express actions in a movie. For example, in Pyscho's shower scene, the screeching violin is a famous theme that evokes a very distinct reaction.
Oct 14, 2021 · The main reasons people listen to music include enjoyment, mood regulation, passing time, and social identity.
Apr 11, 2021 · Much of music’s pleasure comes from the patterns of melody, rhythm, and sudden changes. Musical pleasure, like food and sex, motivates us to engage in music.
