I ask myself WHY

Today hasn't been a good day, not in the slightest. My emotions have ranged from confused to angry to hurt every few seconds and I've been feeling overwhelmed and like I want to curl into a ball and be thrown somewhere far away where no one can find me. My remedy for all life's dilemmas is the same, similar to many- music. As I was listening to my current favourite song Passenger-Let Her Go, I started to tear up a little and soon after I wondered how a simple piece of music made me feel even more emotional? How it caused my tears to finally pour out...

Why does music make us feel?

This is a mystery which I can't put my finger on. 

Think of it technically, music is merely a collection of sounds that briefly replaces silence... but every human can identify pieces that move them emotionally. These powerful emotions are sometimes even able to take you to a different "place"...

So how is it possible that our brain is able to associate a few sounds that have been meshed together with experiences, emotions, stories, feelings and images? Why can we cry or smile or laugh when hearing music.. why does music make us feel?:

The current favourite theory among scientists who study how we process music, dates back to 1956, when the philosopher and composer Leonard Meyer suggests that emotion in music is all about what we expect, and whether or not we get it. Meyer drew on earlier psychological theories of emotion, which suggested that this type of trigger of emotion occurs when we’re unable to satisfy some desire. (e.g- we are confused, we are sad, we are missing someone etc). Listening to moving music causes the brain to release dopamine, a feel-good chemical. Dopamine-induced pleasure may help explain why music has been such a big part of human societies throughout history. Understanding why people like listening to music is helping scientists understand human pleasure. People love music for much the same reason they love and are drawn to sex, drugs, gambling and delicious food. 

Studies show that listening to exciting music increases our heart and breathing rates and causes adrenaline to rush into the bloodstream. (e.g-exercising music). Equally, music with a slower beat can soothe you, cortisol levels (a stress hormone) are lowered and your body calms down. (e.g-a lullaby). 

So there you have it, our music-induced tears, smiles, laughs, feeling-triggers are all thanks to uncontrollable, bittersweet dopamine. 

I hope you've had a relaxing and positive-dopamine-filled weekend lovelies.

X Zo