Why Humans Love Music
Scientists have long wondered why humans love music so much. It may be because it triggers the release of dopamine, the pleasure hormone. But the reasons for our aural preference are more complex than that. Our minds are synced up with rhythmic sounds and emotional responses to music. This is how language works, using a combination of sound and dynamic variation. And while the scientific explanations for why we enjoy music are innumerable, these are just a few of the most compelling.
Researchers at McGill University have delved deep into the brain to find out what makes us love music. They’ve mapped out how the auditory cortex is formed by the sounds that we hear throughout our lives. Their findings reveal that listening to music can trigger brain activity in the areas that control our emotions. This is why we tend to love certain genres of music. The benefits of music are well documented, and we should not ignore the importance of listening to different kinds of music.
The brain assigns value to music by creating an auditory cortex in the ear. The auditory cortex is shaped by the sounds we hear during our lives, and this explains why we prefer one kind of music over another. The researchers also analyzed how people’s behavior changes when they hear a particular genre of music. These findings suggest that listening to music can enhance a person’s well-being. That’s why it’s important to listen to music.