Summary article Music listening in adolescence
•It appears to be a universal human practice to embellish various social gatherings with different
types of appropriate music attuned to the occasion.
Our musical brain.
•Humans are characterized by their exceptionally large brains with areas specifically equipped to
recognize and process auditory information.
Representation of language and music in the brain
•Our capacity to listen to and produce highly complex rhythmic, harmonic and melodic sound and
understand and use highly sophisticated systems of symbols (language) are unique features of
humankind.
•Recent neurocognitive research has introduced evidence that language and music are distinct
phenomena that do not share the same processing components. Problems with language and music
do not always co-occur, implying that at least some brain components are specialized in the
processing of music or language.
Music modules in the brain
•Though types of music vary endlessly, some music universals exist and our brain seems to be
attuned to these universals.
•With regard to the perception of music, it has been proposed that the processing of music recruits
at least two different and specialized brain modules: those for the tonal (pitch, melody) and temporal
(rhythm) dimensions of music.
•In sum, our musical capacities draw on the activation of a whole network of regions across both the
right and left side of the brain. Some of these neural networks may exclusively be used to perceive
music. Others may also be functional for the processing of other types of auditory information or
speech as well.
The evolutionary function of music.
•Music may not only be a bonding device, individual mastery of music and dance may also have
reproductive benefits.
Reproductive benefits
•Darwin observed that some male animals vocalize during the breeding season, and that the sound
they make is used to attract females. Vocalization is, hence, a sexual dimorphic trait, more often
present in males than in females.
•Music is also an emotion eliciting medium, and therefore the format of a love song, so dominant in
popular music, is a fine instrument in courtship.
Survival benefits
•Natural selection can contribute to the survival of music behaviours. Developing music skills in a
playful manner may also have benefits for individuals.
•Making or listening to music can be extremely pleasurable and people can even experience the
chills, and emotion that is grounded in objective physiological markers. Moreover, music making and
listening can induce the release of the hormone oxytocin, a neurotransmitter facilitating birth and
breastfeeding in females, but, more generally, fostering feelings of wellbeing, trust and bonding with
others.
Music listening among adolescents
Exposure and importance
•Adolescent music involvement is limited to populations from western countries.
•In prosperous, industrialized countries technical innovations have facilitated music listening. In the
early part of the twentieth century most music listening occurred by way of the radio.
•It appears to be a universal human practice to embellish various social gatherings with different
types of appropriate music attuned to the occasion.
Our musical brain.
•Humans are characterized by their exceptionally large brains with areas specifically equipped to
recognize and process auditory information.
Representation of language and music in the brain
•Our capacity to listen to and produce highly complex rhythmic, harmonic and melodic sound and
understand and use highly sophisticated systems of symbols (language) are unique features of
humankind.
•Recent neurocognitive research has introduced evidence that language and music are distinct
phenomena that do not share the same processing components. Problems with language and music
do not always co-occur, implying that at least some brain components are specialized in the
processing of music or language.
Music modules in the brain
•Though types of music vary endlessly, some music universals exist and our brain seems to be
attuned to these universals.
•With regard to the perception of music, it has been proposed that the processing of music recruits
at least two different and specialized brain modules: those for the tonal (pitch, melody) and temporal
(rhythm) dimensions of music.
•In sum, our musical capacities draw on the activation of a whole network of regions across both the
right and left side of the brain. Some of these neural networks may exclusively be used to perceive
music. Others may also be functional for the processing of other types of auditory information or
speech as well.
The evolutionary function of music.
•Music may not only be a bonding device, individual mastery of music and dance may also have
reproductive benefits.
Reproductive benefits
•Darwin observed that some male animals vocalize during the breeding season, and that the sound
they make is used to attract females. Vocalization is, hence, a sexual dimorphic trait, more often
present in males than in females.
•Music is also an emotion eliciting medium, and therefore the format of a love song, so dominant in
popular music, is a fine instrument in courtship.
Survival benefits
•Natural selection can contribute to the survival of music behaviours. Developing music skills in a
playful manner may also have benefits for individuals.
•Making or listening to music can be extremely pleasurable and people can even experience the
chills, and emotion that is grounded in objective physiological markers. Moreover, music making and
listening can induce the release of the hormone oxytocin, a neurotransmitter facilitating birth and
breastfeeding in females, but, more generally, fostering feelings of wellbeing, trust and bonding with
others.
Music listening among adolescents
Exposure and importance
•Adolescent music involvement is limited to populations from western countries.
•In prosperous, industrialized countries technical innovations have facilitated music listening. In the
early part of the twentieth century most music listening occurred by way of the radio.
