Whether it makes us feel wonderful, wistful, downright soppy, music undoubtedly makes us ‘feel’. Why? Apparently, an area of our brain called Heschl’s Gyrus (temporal lobe) is what scientists say lights up like a Christmas tree when we listen to music!
A new study makes use of artificial intelligence to delve deeper into exactly what makes the gyrus light up? Focuses on 3 aspects of music – listening experience: neural (how brains respond), physiological: (how bodies respond), emotional. Played with 74 musical variables like rhythm, timbre, volume.
Found stuff like changing dynamics, changing rhythms, changing timbre were picked up most by Heschl’s Gyrus area of brain. Really all about contrast. Contrast’s in pulse, rthytm, strength of beats makes the maximum difference.
Taking a holistic view of music perception using all musical predictors give an unprecedented insight into how our bodies, brains respond to music. Music comes with a key signature, meter, structure, melody, harmony, rhythm. There’s emotional music and thinking music. Emotional music inspires compassion, creativity.
Thinking music may seem dull, un-interesting, complex to comprehend, outrageously dissonant, non-musical. However, caters to our logical, rational mind. Stimulates imagination, curiosity with the right attitude, mindset to blossom, open up to a world of undiscovered musical treasures.
Take a test – Are you logical or emotional based on your taste in music?