Why Do People Like Music So Much? Why Do They Listen to Their Favorite Songs?

In the realm of why humans love music, there are two basic areas in which we can look. One area is where we use music to enhance our mood and the other is to enhance our brain function. In the previous article we looked at how using certain types of music can heighten our mood and how that mood can then be translated into a greater awareness of self and a greater ability to take risks and to enjoy ourselves.

However, in this paper we are looking at a different reason why humans love music and that is through the increase in the level of dopamine in their brains. This is the same neurotransmitter that is present in both the body and in the brain, but in humans it tends to be regulated more highly as a result of various environmental factors. In particular, there are a number of factors that will increase the levels of dopamine in the brain, which in turn, will in turn, result in a greater emotional awareness and therefore, a greater sense of self. In some cases, this higher dopamine reward pathway activity can be seen in people who are suffering from depression and in some cases it can even be seen in people who are experiencing psychotic disorders. The interesting thing about all of this is that one of the major contributing factors to this is listening to music.

So, if listening to music makes you feel good, why do some people have a hard time getting rid of their favorite songs? It turns out that their brains have been programmed as if they were stuck in a constant state of high emotion. In essence, this means that their brains have been pre-programmed to always think happy thoughts and to have a greater awareness of self. For instance, if you listen to your favorite songs while you’re sad, depressed or in pain, then you are sending a message to your brain through your emotions that “hey, these things make me really happy”. This causes your brain to release certain chemicals which make you happier. Of course, you have to continue to send these messages to keep the effect going, but once you’ve created a happy state for yourself, there’s no going back!