Music in Our Genes

People LIKE music, what Scientists are striving to understand is why. How does the human brain hear music and what affect does it have? The question that puzzles the modern scientist the most is “Why?” Where does music come from and what is its purpose.

Most Scientist’s attempts to explain ‘why’ from an evolutionary standpoint have failed. If ‘Music is a mating call like the birds’, then why do babies and the elderly respond? If ‘Music creates social bonding,’ then why do people like to listen to it while they are alone?

The most interesting facts that come from this search are the side-effects of scientist's search for an evolutionary explaination of music. Scientists have made some fascinating discoveries about how music works in the human mind and how it affects us. One of the most basic discoveries is that many forms of music reduce stress hormones and boost the immune system, but there are other more suprising discoveries.

Researcher Sandra Trehub has discovered that babies will consistently pick out a wrong note (a note that is not a part of the scale being used in the melody). They even do this with invented scales that humans have never heard before.

She’s also found that lullabies sound the same around the world, and in all cultures. Babies from every country also respond to those lullabies in the same way. When mother is singing her lullaby stress hormones in the baby are reduced, the baby is mesmerized and much more likely to fall asleep. This response to the special makeup of a lullaby tune seems to be hardwired into the human brain.

At the other end of the age spectrum lies some of the most remarkable responses to music. Elderly stroke victims who have had the left hemisphere of their brain so badly damaged that they can’t even speak can sing.

In New York, music therapist David Ramsey visits stroke patients twice a week with his guitar. Most of those patients can’t even say ‘hello’ but when he starts playing his guitar they start singing, “I am feeling fine, thank you. It’s good to see you again.” To David’s sung question, “How are you today?” Then they launch into songs like “You are my Sunshine”. (Discover, Aug2001, pg. 75)

While scientists search for the answers Christians know that God created us and that when He did, He planted music very deep in our souls. As with everything that has such a deep hold on us, it can be used for evil or for good. If we understand more about how it impacts us we can better insure that we only use it for good in our lives so we continue to watch as research uncovers more about music.

 

Wendy

The Remnant Online

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