Music: As Real As Life Itself When It Comes To The Brain

"Scientists.....are trying to understand and quantify what makes music expressive — what specific aspects make one version of, say, a Beethoven sonata convey more emotion than another.

"The results are contributing to a greater understanding of how the brain works and of the importance of music in human development, communication and cognition, and even as a potential therapeutic tool.

"Research is showing, for example, that our brains understand music not only as emotional diversion, but also as a form of motion and activity. The same areas of the brain that activate when we swing a golf club or sign our name also engage when we hear expressive moments in music. Brain regions associated with empathy are activated, too, even for listeners who are not musicians."

This interesting article by Pam Belluck in the April 18 edition of the New York Times's Science section explores a fascinating topic. It's worth a read for all music lovers who have a yen to fathom the mysterious relationship between life and music. -- LA Opus Publisher

Photo by Rodney Punt, used with permission.