The Incredible Human Part Three: Music

In part three of my series about the incredible human, I am going to talk about our ability to create, interact, and enjoy music. You can read the first two here: The Incredible Human Part One and The Incredible Human Part Two.

Music is found in all human cultures and thus appears to be part of our biology and not simply a cultural phenomenon. Although many animals can perceive the components of music the way we do, at least some also enjoy similar aspects of sounds, musicality is strictly human. We think of birds as singing, but they are merely communicating using complex patterns of rhythm and pitch, much the way humans employ intonation while speaking. For instance, we may speak more quickly and louder when excited. Additionally, we raise the pitch of the final word when asking a question. But music composition, performance, and appreciation is strictly a human phenomenon. 1

Amusia and the Brain

Science has determined many overlaps exist in how humans process speech and music. A condition called amusia naturally exists in about 1.5 percent of the population. It is a condition in some people that leaves them unable to distinguish between musical notes and is commonly referred to as tone-deafness. It was once believed that forty percent of the population suffered from the condition; however, it turns out that most people can recognize different tones with varying accuracy. 

Individuals with the most common form of congenital amusia have a normal understanding of speech. They can recognize speakers by their voices and identify familiar environmental sounds such as animal cries. Indicating parallel processing of language and music that involve different brain regions. 2 

Most amusic people, however, become so due to brain injury such as a stroke. In addition, studies of amusic individuals show that despite overlapping areas of the brain that control speech and music; there are many distinct brain regions for processing music. Amazingly, the right side of our brains dominate as opposed to the left, which controls speech and language. 3

Music, Learning, and Emotion

Although the lyrics of songs strongly influence the emotions we experience while listening, the notes, tempo, rhythm, and instrumentation can intensely influence our emotions. Unsurprisingly, processing music involves the entire limbic system, which generates emotions and controls memory. Oddly, there may be no reproducible relationship between the emotion experienced and the form and content of the music. As a result, two listeners can have very different reactions to the same song. Indeed, music has also been used to torture people because it can also cause negative emotions.

Because music heavily influences emotion and memory, hearing a familiar song helps recall specific memories and emotions from the past. Indeed, the process of learning music also improves the learning of verbal tasks. 4

Music and Social Bonding

Music is universally communicative, expressive, and outwardly shared; therefore, it is very social. Yet, it is also deeply private and personal. We all sing, hum, or think of music when we are alone. 5 For one thing, music is most often a synchronous event, whether multiple people are singing along with a song on the radio or a band is cooperating to produce a song. Coordinated activities such as group drumming, communal singing, and dance have influenced social bonding throughout history. 

Other recent studies have shown that joint music-making, which involves group singing, drumming, and dancing, also seems to promote cooperation in small children. In addition, traditional societies, both historic and modern, typically perform music and dance in an integrated social context. 6 Lastly, we all seem compelled to inform others about songs we have heard for various reasons. Whether it is simply to inform others that there is a new potentially amazing song you have just heard or to relate an experience you had when a familiar song plays, music prompts communication.

Musicians and Listeners

We all admire musicians for their multiple talents. Musicians can be amazing lyricists, great singers, physically coordinated in almost superhuman ways, unbelievable memorizers, and composers. Unfortunately, most of us will never be capable musicians. But that does not mean we can't appreciate and understand music. Because many of us actively listen to music most of the day, we can understand many aspects of music without formal musical training. Research has shown that many of us can achieve dizzying amounts of musical knowledge without any training and become "experienced listeners."7

Music Therapy

Although there are wide variations in individual preferences, music appears to exert direct beneficial physiologic effects. Music often promotes well-being and distracts patients from pain and other unpleasant symptoms, thoughts, and feelings. It can improve mood, decrease anxiety, and reduce pain associated with surgery, medical procedures, and chronic conditions. In addition, it has been shown to help premature babies gain weight more quickly. Lastly, (I am speaking for myself here) it enhances caregiver behavior. 8

Conclusion

Although associated with some animals like birds, music is distinctly human because of our ability to create and enjoy infinite varieties. Moreover, it overlaps with language, and theorists surmise it may have been our way of communicating before we had speech. An example is the sing-song voices we sometimes use with babies, our pets, and loved ones. It is overwhelmingly associated with pleasure, although it can be a source of annoyance when subjected to it involuntarily. It has been shown to improve health in many ways, from mental health to cardiac health and improved healing. 9 Most importantly (see my previous post), it is a very strong force for social cohesion, the most significant predictor of health and longevity