music and emotion

[1984]

What happens in the human body between when you hear music and when the emotion starts. And why can, say, one person be moved to tears by a classical piece of music they'd never heard before, whereas another finds, say, Celine Dion's I Will Always Love You very touching? I started this thread here, looking for a more (medical?) scientific explanation in the relationship between music and emotion.

Also, some people listen to just one kind of music, while others have their CD collection gradually change over time as they get rid of old music they know they'll never listen to, and search for other sounds to like. What does this approach to music say about the person and perhaps their emotional maturity. This is probably more a behavioural science type question.

Note: I don't play any musical instruments at all.

 

[El Greco]

I don't think we know the answer to that. Perhaps the mechanism is similar to the way emotions appear when you see a familiar or an unfamiliar but somehow distinctive face. Memories may also be involved, even if one has never heard a piece before; it may simply remind him of something. I've watched that BBC documentary about the brain where a woman has lost the ability to recognize music (eg she can't even recognize very simple and popular tunes), yet she can still get the "feeling" of music - whether it's sad or happy that is.

I'd also guess that our appreciation of music depends on past experiences more than what we probably think it does.

 

[Loon]

I suspect that part of the answer will come from a better understanding of memory, for the reasons that El Greco mentions.

It would be interesting to see what chemicals are released in the blood when a person hears different types of music. You could then see what the differences are in a metal-head hearing metal and in a soft-rock type person hearing that same metal.

I wonder if PET scans are safe enough to be used in experiments like this. They'd certainly tell us a lot about music and brain function.

 

[mgidm86]

I have to go to sleep, so my quick 2 cents:

Sound can have, or perhaps seem to have, a "physical" effect on the body. Think fingernails on a chalkboard.

When I studied music theory, we studied Bach and other composers. Musical scores based on the Major scale tend to be perceived as happy and upbeat (think "happy birthday" or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"). Minor scales evoke a more sorrowful or melancholy emotion from the listener (think the beginning guitarwork from Zeppelin's "Baby I'm Gonna Leave You" or most funeral dirges).

Music is mathematics. Sound waves. When sound waves interract with each other (or even with the environment) they can create dissonance in the sound. When the notes or waves match better, we have a more pleasant, smooth, perhaps melodious sound.

My teachers example was to drop 2 pebbles in a pond. First you drop them a few feet apart from each other and notice how the ripples from each pebble react and collide. Next, take 2 pebbles and drop one, then the other right next to the first. The ripples tend to blend with each other more smoothly as they travel roughly the same pattern. It was a cool visual way to introduce the class.

Finally the way the music is played has a dramatic effect on the listener. A violin solo that makes a person cry when played by a virtuoso will probably sound canned and empty when replicated by a synthesizer. The human aspect, the mistakes, the subtle hesitation before a particular note, or the building crescendo of a series of arpeggios are all the things that make all of this science human.

It is amazing that humans can recognize a sad song they've never heard before by the opening notes of a single instrument. Whether or not this is learned behavior or natural is argueable, I'm sure. This is a fascinating and complex subject and I'll try and return to this thread when I can.

Edit to add:
Also listen closely to music you hear in movies, TV shows. Chase scenes, love scenes, jungle scenes, horror movies. Even commercials. In most situations, the music is chosen or written very carefully using everything we believe to know about sound, music and human perception. Even if we don't know why it works, a ton of money and effort are spent in the belief that it does. (because we spend money on it, it must exist!)

I understand that you are looking for a scientific or biologic explanation as to why all of this occurs. I can't really help you here. Some claim that the human heart tries to match the beat of a rhythm that we hear, and that certain beats etc are more conducive to making people want to dance, tap ones foot to the beat.

Okay. Sleepy time.

 

[plindboe]

I guess art is a kind of social interaction between humans. Just as we can fascinate/sadden/humour/frighten each others with words, so can we with pictures and music. Social interactions create strong bonds and therefore result in groupings, which is a benefit for survival for a social species. Higher skills in social interaction, be it humour, art etc., places one in a higher status in society, and a higher chance of getting laid, and the genes have been selected for as soon as our brains gained the potential for this behaviour. Social animals usually just use body language, touching, simple sounds and smells to communicate with each others, but mankind with a much more advanced brain has incorporated complex language skills, writing, paintings, movies, music, statues, games and so many others.

ETA: Uh, might as well add. The reason different people react to different styles of music has to do with groupings within the species. We have evolved to react more to and to develop skills for those specific social skills we come in contact within our group/tribe. Today we have something nature didn't plan for though; radio, tv and the internet, and what 'subcultural social interaction' we absorb has to do with our upbringing and environment.

Hmm, probably not very eloquent, but hope it can be understood.

 

[Ducky]

If you're listening to Celine Dion, that's not emotion your feeling, it's a gag reflex.

 

[Dogdoctor]

Good question. What is it that makes use react and react differently as reflected by Fowlsounds response (I concur). I also am emotionally stirred by music though not to the point of tears (and not so much with Celine Dion but maybe Whitney Houston) and various different feelings such as sadness melancholy, rage, happiness, horniness. There are other sounds which affect me like the sound of a waterfall or the wind blowing through the trees or waves breaking. They tend to have a calming effect on me (white noise?) The sounds of certain females voices tend to hypnotize or pacify me. Seriously there are women who I could just listen to them talk about anything all day long and not get tired of their voice. Why? No answers here.

 

[patnray]

I recommend a book I read many years ago by Herman von Helmholtz. IIRC it was called "On the Sensation of Tone" or something like that.

Helmholtz was a renaissance scientist and meticulous experimenter who was trained as a physician but made many contributions to physics. The book is description of his investigation into how tones and combinations of tones are perceived and why some combinations are more or less pleasing than others.

He demonstrated that we find most pleasing tones in which there is a simple whole number ratio between the frequencies and that these relationships are built into the musical scales.

I read it many years ago and have forgotten many of the details, but it is a wonderful starting point for investigating your question. I remember that I was taking guitar lessons at the time and that none of my teachers could explain to me why chords are made of the particular notes they are. Helmholtz explained it eloquently...

 

[alfaniner]

The last two things to really move me on first hearing were:

1. Wanting Memories -- Keali'i Reichel, on the "Kawaipunahele" CD. (Spelling? I don't have it right here).

2. The soundtrack to the movie Iris (not seen it, but I lent it to my Dad and he was affected by it as well).

 

[Bone_Vulture]

The sounds of certain females voices tend to hypnotize or pacify me. Seriously there are women who I could just listen to them talk about anything all day long and not get tired of their voice. Why? No answers here.

Wasn't there a study made some time ago that men find other men easier to listen than women? Has something to do with the pitch and frequency of average voice.

Personally, the latest emotionally moving album I listened was Rush's "Signals".

 

[homer]

The most emotional music I've ever heard has to be BACHs ST Matthew Passion . I've got it on my net-walkman , but never play such music while driving since it distracts to much .
Strangely enough I'm listening to Led Zeppelin just now ,hows that for a culture jump ? Middle of the road ? You might get run over !

 

[casebro]

Don't we find pleasing the music we have become accustomed to? Is there an assumption of an inate appreciation of music? Seems to me the root of this discussion is nurture instead of nature. With out peer presssure, who would find any good in Heavy Metall?

 

[Dogdoctor]

Wasn't there a study made some time ago that men find other men easier to listen than women? Has something to do with the pitch and frequency of average voice.

Personally, the latest emotionally moving album I listened was Rush's "Signals".

I don't know of any study but if there were one then I guess I am the exception.
I got a bit of emotional rush from Nine Inch Nails which surprised me it kind of roused feelings of sexual aggression in me , something I have not felt due to music before.

 

[Bikewer]

I have often wondered about this connection myself, as there are both instrumental passages and lyrics that provoke a strong emotional response. I've had this happen with numbers of classical pieces, ranging from Sibelius to Rachmaninoff.
Likewise with all sorts of lyrics, and instrumental solos as well. The guitar solo for Dire Straits' "Tunnel of Love" always gets me.

 

[epepke]

I knew a guy, Steve Newcomb, who was trying to research this very topic.

I haven't heard from him in two decades, but you might be able to find something on Google.

 

[1984]

Thanks for the responses so far.

A violin solo that makes a person cry when played by a virtuoso will probably sound canned and empty when replicated by a synthesizer.

What does that say for pill popping techno music ravers? Come to think of it, Reggae has grass, House has eccies, Psychadleia had LSD…

Now that would be an interesting study - the effects of drugs with music - practical science anyone?

It is amazing that humans can recognize a sad song they've never heard before by the opening notes of a single instrument. Whether or not this is learned behavior or natural is argueable, I'm sure.

This comes to mind, a review on Amazon

“I first heard this piece and this recording my freshman year of college. I was transfixed. I had no idea what the singing was about (apparently prayers written on the wall at Auschwitz). The music just conveys a profound sadness and I am unable to listen to this piece without completely losing it and drowning in tears.” Scroll to review by Joshua Sher.

 

[1984]

I recommend a book I read many years ago by Herman von Helmholtz. IIRC it was called "On the Sensation of Tone" or something like that.

That little adventure on Amazon got me two books first published in the 1960s, and this link whose complete table of contents can be viewed by clicking onto "next page" – something I’ll definitely chase up.

Don't we find pleasing the music we have become accustomed to? Is there an assumption of an inate appreciation of music? Seems to me the root of this discussion is nurture instead of nature. With out peer presssure, who would find any good in Heavy Metall?

That’s the thing. I don’t recall growing up to Bowie, but bought a compilation album and got right into his music for years. Nowadays, I’m not so keen. Somehow I’ve changed, and my musical tastes have too.

Seriously there are women who I could just listen to them talk about anything all day long and not get tired of their voice. Why?

This reminds me of accents. People who say they can’t stand this or that accent. A work colleague has a voice for radio I could listen to all day, and I’ve told them that.Isn’t it funny when someone has a voice that doesn’t match their appearance?

 

[1984]

I guess art is a kind of social interaction between humans. Just as we can fascinate/sadden/humour/frighten each others with words, so can we with pictures and music. Social interactions create strong bonds and therefore result in groupings, which is a benefit for survival for a social species.

Reminds me of my holy-roller days. Looking to others for guidance as to what we could and couldn't do, one bit of advice told us to listen to music only in the key of "C" - a joyous, uplifting key. Meanwhile, Jimmy Swaggart told us we could dance, so long as we didn't swivel our hips.