Music and the Brain

[MolotovCocktail]

I thought I would put this topic in this section given that it involves a great deal of neurology.

 

Its something I've been thinking about actually while listening to electronica (e.g. techno, ambiance, etc. NOT to be confused with hip-pop crap...) , and that is just how much of an influence does music have on the human brain. Also, did we evolve knowing what music is?

 

There is really a lot of stuff to cover with this subject, but I'll get to the main points. For one, music has been known to influence emotional states, and in some cases even induce them. Also, we humans just seem to naturally be attracted to certain frequencies and sounds. For example, when I hear certain harmonic frequencies such as that from an instrument, we identify it as beats, while other noises like stuff falling on the ground is just noise. Another thing to consider is its effect on the development of the brain itself (e.g. developing certain skills such as pattern recognition and even its use as a psychological treatment).

 

Here are some quotes from an article about it:

 

"Then there are endless anecdotes about athletes using music to enhance their performance. Pitcher Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres, for example, listens to AC/DC to get psyched up in a game. Tramo ran to "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones when he won a gold medal in the 100-yard dash in high school......

 

Tramo believes that music and dancing preceded language. Archaeologists have discovered flutes made from animal bones by Neanderthals living in Eastern Europe more than 50,000 years ago. No human culture is known that does not have music."

 

(Cromie, William J. "Music on the Brain." Harvard Gazette. 22 Mar. 2001. Havard University. 1 June 2007 <http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2001/03.22/04-music.html>.)

 

And here is a bunch of links to contemporary research regarding music and the brain:

http://brainmusic.org/EducationalActivitiesFolder/EducationalActivities.html

 

So, what are your thoughts, research, etc....

[tomgwyther]

I'm not a neuro scientist, but I am a professional musician.

I would say that music tends to have an effect on the limbic system of the brain as well as the cerebral cortex. it would bounce between the two,

The primitive part of the brain would deal with emotion and feeling, while the higher functioning part of the brain can deal with the subtle lyrical sugestions etc.

The brain will always find patterns in things anyway, (i.e. Rythm) so it's not impossible to supose that music preceded language, or maybe they co-evolved.

 

Other points:

 

1. A phsycological reason why dance/techno music has done so well, may because Our brain gets used to the repetative drum beat, and some-what, blocks it out, alowing the frontal cortex to hear more clearly the other instruments in the music. If a real drum kit were used (Rather than a drum machine) It sounds like the drums are too loud, Somthing I have to compensate for when mixing.

 

2. all humans seem to have an inate sunse of harmony. The 'Perfect 5th harmonic interval' is present in all musical forms from different cultures

[e.g. perfect 5th would be C and G played together.]

 

3. It's been documented that listening to classical music can improve IQ scores, maybe as the brain is stimulated on many levels by the music.

 

4. When I'm performing, especially if I realy get into the music; The higher brain functions seem to shut down. The mind becomes utterly blank, the piano seems to be playing itself, and one experiences a complete 'in-the-momentness' . As if the limbic system is calling the shots with no help from my consious mind.... wierd!

I've listened to myself playing in this state, and cannot replicate what I've played earlier.

 

5. For some reason, cats and dogs will leave the room when someone is playing live, soft classical guitar, as if they can't stand it. But will stay when pre-recorded heavy rock loud music is played.

Dont ask me why, they just do!!

[Royston]

4. When I'm performing, especially if I realy get into the music; The higher brain functions seem to shut down. The mind becomes utterly blank, the piano seems to be playing itself, and one experiences a complete 'in-the-momentness' . As if the limbic system is calling the shots with no help from my consious mind.... wierd!

I've listened to myself playing in this state, and cannot replicate what I've played earlier.

 

I can certainly identify with that, nearly all of what I feel are my better pieces have come from just shutting off and just playing, without really thinking about what I'm doing...just 'going with it', that sounds hoplessly vague, but it's very hard to describe.

 

5. For some reason, cats and dogs will leave the room when someone is playing live, soft classical guitar, as if they can't stand it. But will stay when pre-recorded heavy rock loud music is played.

Dont ask me why, they just do!!

 

Perhaps they have a critical ear for production techniques That's very bizarre, do you have a link to this ?

[Panda_ca]

Yeah, I agree with Tom. There are multiple levels of appeal of music for the human brain. The effects of music on the brain have also been shown to aid in brain function such as memory and recall.

 

To get back to the root of the thread, I think that music is an invention, like the wheel, that we created. We did not evolve with an innate sense to create and appreciate music. I think rather we created music, that plays perfectly on our primal brain and other psychological factors.

[ecoli]

My girlfriend read this book, and liked it: http://www.amazon.com/This-Your-Brain-Music-Obsession/dp/0525949690