In a recent article, the people behind Vox.com published a piece called “The scientific mystery of why humans love music“; But it’s really no mystery:
When we listen to music, our brains release dopamine, which in turn makes us happy
In one study published in Nature Neuroscience, led by Zatorre, researchers found that dopamine release is strongest when a piece of music reaches an emotional peak and the listener feels “chills”— the spine-tingling sensation of excitement and awe.
Then there is the whole matter of “entrainment.”
Music is an exaggerated version of speech. Just as higher-pitched and speedier voices connote excitement, so do higher-pitched and speedier selections of music.
Our mantra is “we love music,” but, whether you know it or not, it is your mantra too.
