The Thoughts of We

The question of why we love music has fascinated scholars for years. Charles Darwin hypothesized that the social aspects of music grew out of courtship rituals, and more recent research has looked at the role that music plays in strengthening community bonds. Many people feel emotionally connected to music, and even outcasts find communities in genres that aren’t popular in their societies. The study suggests that people’s social needs are correlated with their responses to music.

It’s unclear why humans are attracted to certain types of music, but there may be a biological explanation for the appeal of certain musical compositions. A 2013 study found that people were willing to pay more for music that activated dopamine receptors. The researchers believe this is because music has long been considered a powerful tool in human societies. In fact, this discovery is so compelling that it may be a key to understanding why people love music.

There are several parts of the brain involved in the processing of music. Scientists believe this region is responsible for learning responses. For example, when Pavlov’s dogs were trained to drool when he blew a whistle, they would drool. The same mechanism works in the brain of a dancer, where a music breakup triggers a rush of dopamine.