FeaturedNeurologyNeurosciencePsychology·April 16, 2025·4 min readFrom Anxiety to Alzheimer’s, Music Makes a DifferenceMusic therapy is proving to be a powerful adjunct treatment for a range of conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, chronic pain, movement disorders, and mental health issues. Research highlights how music can regulate heart rate, reduce anxiety, and even improve communication in patients with memory loss.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·April 15, 2025·4 min readWhy Nostalgic Songs Spark the Brain’s Memory and Reward SystemListening to nostalgic music activates key brain regions tied to memory and emotion, according to a new brain imaging study. Researchers found that songs linked to personal memories engage both the default mode network and the brain's reward circuitry.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 7, 2025·6 min readMusic Choice Can Harm ProductivityA new study shows that background music in workplaces can harm employee mood, energy, and job performance when it doesn’t match individual needs. This "music misfit" effect leads to mental fatigue, decreased focus, and even counterproductive behaviors. The negative impact is especially pronounced for workers who struggle to ignore background stimuli, known as non-screeners.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 7, 2025·6 min readADHD and Music: Why Background Beats May Boost Study FocusA new study explored whether young adults with ADHD are more likely to listen to background music during daily tasks. The survey, involving over 400 participants, found that individuals with ADHD prefer listening to music—especially stimulating music—while studying or playing sports.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·March 31, 2025·4 min readGenes Play a Role in Why We Love MusicA new genetic study reveals that our capacity to enjoy music is partly inherited, with 54% of music enjoyment variability linked to DNA differences. Researchers analyzed data from over 9,000 twins to explore whether genetics influence how much pleasure people derive from music.Read More
Auditory NeuroscienceFeaturedNeuroscience·February 12, 2025·4 min readPerfect Pitch Can Be Learned: Study Challenges Long-Held BeliefsAbsolute pitch, once thought to be an innate ability or only attainable through early childhood training, may be learnable in adulthood. Researchers trained 12 adult musicians in an eight-week online program, focusing on recognizing pitch class rather than specific pitch heights.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·February 11, 2025·5 min readThe Urge to Move to Music Is HardwiredA new study finds that the urge to move to music—known as groove—is a distinct physiological response, separate from musical enjoyment. Researchers examined individuals with musical anhedonia, who feel little or no pleasure from music, and found they still had a strong urge to move when listening to rhythmic beats. Participants rated how much pleasure they experienced and how much the music made them want to move, revealing that movement itself may generate pleasure for those with anhedonia.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·December 8, 2024·6 min readMusic Can Change the Emotional Tone of Your MemoriesNew research reveals that music can do more than trigger memories—it can alter their emotional tone. When participants recalled neutral stories while listening to emotionally charged music, they later remembered the stories as matching the music’s mood. Brain scans showed increased communication between emotion, memory, and sensory processing areas, suggesting music infuses new emotional details into memories. These findings hint at music’s potential for therapeutic interventions, like reframing negative memories in depression or PTSD.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·December 4, 2024·4 min readMusicians’ Sophomore Slump: Real for Critics, But Fans DisagreeA new study challenges the notion of the musicians' "sophomore slump," finding it exists only in professional critics' reviews, not fan ratings. Critics tend to harshly critique bands’ second albums compared to their first and third, likely influenced by social conformity within their group.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·November 29, 2024·5 min readShared Genetics Link Musical Rhythm and Language SkillsA new study reveals shared genetic underpinnings between musical rhythm abilities and language-related traits, including dyslexia. Using data from over 1 million individuals, researchers identified 16 overlapping genome regions tied to rhythm and language, with key roles in brain connectivity.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePainPsychology·October 19, 2024·4 min readListening to Music After Surgery Lowers Pain and AnxietyA new study suggests that listening to music after surgery can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, and even heart rate, aiding recovery. An analysis of 35 studies found that patients who listened to music reported lower pain levels and used less morphine on the first day post-surgery compared to those who didn’t.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·September 4, 2024·5 min readOlder Brains Work Harder to Remember MusicOlder adults are just as capable as younger individuals of remembering familiar music, but their brains must work harder in certain areas. While memory-related brain regions are less active in older people, sensory-related areas become more engaged, compensating for reduced memory function.Read More
