Music

The brain works harder to process music without drum and bass. A new study shows that these elements drive rhythm perception and movement-related brain activity in pop music listening.

Does beauty in music resonate differently in our brains? New research using brain imaging uncovers intriguing patterns of neural connectivity that distinguish our responses to aesthetically pleasing and less appealing sounds.

Listening to music during memory recall can alter the emotional tone of memories, making them more positive or negative, by activating emotion- and memory-related brain regions. This discovery suggests potential therapeutic uses for reframing difficult memories.

Research published in Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science provides evidence of a memory advantage in musicians for musical stimuli. However, the data suggests that benefits for non-musical information are more limited than previously reported.

Whether music boosts productivity depends on your personality, task, and music type. Extroverts benefit more, simple tasks are easier with music, and calm tunes work best.

Music therapy improves dementia care by reducing anxiety, agitation, and depression, enhancing mood, memory, and cognitive function. Familiar songs trigger emotional and physical responses, potentially strengthening neural connections and supporting overall wellbeing.

A recent study found that a large portion of people’s sung earworms matched the pitch of the original songs exactly, adding new evidence that our brains may retain detailed musical information in ways we never realized.

Left-handed musicians and non-musicians appear to develop atypical brain patterns for language through different pathways, with musicians showing enhanced interhemispheric connections and non-musicians having reduced intrahemispheric connectivity in language-related brain areas.

Listening to classical music is associated with synchronized brain activity in regions involved in sound and emotion processing, with personal music preference linked to stronger neural alignment and potential improvements in depressive symptoms.

A new study finds that older adults retain the ability to recognize and remember new music, suggesting that musical memory remains resilient with age, even in complex, real-world settings like live concerts.

New research explores how music could influence patient experiences during intranasal ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression, potentially opening doors to more effective and comfortable treatment protocols.

A recent study found that adolescents reported improvements in cognitive, emotional, and social-relational skills, including critical thinking, self-confidence, effective communication, and teamwork, through participation in a classical music ensemble, despite challenges like frustration and adapting to different music styles.

A new study provides initial evidence that classical music could significantly aid stroke survivors in regaining language skills and enhancing brain connectivity, offering a promising, non-invasive therapy for cognitive recovery.