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Why Music Moves Us

The emotional, physical, and cognitive effects of music.

Education
When You Ask a Child to Sing ….

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on March 29, 2015

Researchers in Canada and Japan asked preschoolers (4 and 5 year olds) to create a song.Their results reveal some interesting differences about children’s education and about cultural expectations and differences.

Researchers in Canada and Japan asked preschoolers (4 and 5 year olds) to create a song.Their results reveal some interesting differences about children’s education and about cultural expectations and differences.

Personality
Can the Right Music Make You Feel More Powerful?

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on January 5, 2015

Do you ever get a sense of feeling “pumped” when you hear certain kinds of music? A series of experiments suggests that some music can indeed give listeners a sense of power, as indicated in power-related cognitions and behavior.

Do you ever get a sense of feeling “pumped” when you hear certain kinds of music? A series of experiments suggests that some music can indeed give listeners a sense of power, as indicated in power-related cognitions and behavior.

Flow
Flow States Among Pianists

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on June 27, 2014

A flow state is a special experience. What are the connections between flow states, musical practice, and levels of achievement?

A flow state is a special experience. What are the connections between flow states, musical practice, and levels of achievement?

Happiness
Music Listening and Overall Happiness Among Adolescents

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on December 31, 2013

For many people listening to music is a pleasurable activity. But can listening to music contribute to the overall happiness and well-being? Research with Canadian adolescents suggests that one's reason for listening have a lot to do with the answer.

For many people listening to music is a pleasurable activity. But can listening to music contribute to the overall happiness and well-being? Research with Canadian adolescents suggests that one's reason for listening have a lot to do with the answer.

Play
Music, Fame, and Sexual Selection

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on September 30, 2013

Famous musicians seem to have no trouble attracting women. But does an interest in music give any advantage to guys who rock out in garages and basements rather than stadiums? An elegantly simply experiment done in France suggests that it does.

Famous musicians seem to have no trouble attracting women. But does an interest in music give any advantage to guys who rock out in garages and basements rather than stadiums? An elegantly simply experiment done in France suggests that it does.

Empathy
Can Listening to the Blues Give You the Blues?

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on June 30, 2013

Some people report feeling strongly influenced by the music they hear Other listeners enjoy music just as much but do not seem to be so susceptible to the emotions it expresses. A recent study by researchers in Finland sheds some light on these differences. Sad music really does seem to make listeners sad - at least some of them.

Some people report feeling strongly influenced by the music they hear Other listeners enjoy music just as much but do not seem to be so susceptible to the emotions it expresses. A recent study by researchers in Finland sheds some light on these differences. Sad music really does seem to make listeners sad - at least some of them.

Philosophy
Music, Movement and Emotion

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on June 12, 2013

A group of researchers at Dartmouth have found a new way to explore the relationship between music, emotion and movement.

A group of researchers at Dartmouth have found a new way to explore the relationship between music, emotion and movement.

Attention
Making Music Together

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on May 29, 2013

Children from ages two to four have difficulty synchronizing their movements to a regular beat. Would this change if the movement-to-music activity was presented in a social context?

Children from ages two to four have difficulty synchronizing their movements to a regular beat. Would this change if the movement-to-music activity was presented in a social context?

Environment
Cross-Cultural Research and the Nature of Music

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on March 26, 2013

Does the language you grew up speaking, and the music you grew up hearing, affect the way you hear music as an adult? Do they make a difference in your ability to learn and enjoy unfamiliar music?

Does the language you grew up speaking, and the music you grew up hearing, affect the way you hear music as an adult? Do they make a difference in your ability to learn and enjoy unfamiliar music?

Attention
The Beat Goes On – But How?

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on February 26, 2013

A recent pilot study indicates that beat induction - the ability to detect a regular pulse in music - may be present in newborn infants.

A recent pilot study indicates that beat induction - the ability to detect a regular pulse in music - may be present in newborn infants.

Anxiety
Music, Detachment and the Loss of Self

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on December 31, 2012

Music has the ability to take us out of ourselves. A recent study by Ruth Herbert at the U.K.’s Open University (Herbert, 2011) is one of the few to examine the psychological characteristics of normative dissociation facilitated by music in “real world” settings.

Music has the ability to take us out of ourselves. A recent study by Ruth Herbert at the U.K.’s Open University (Herbert, 2011) is one of the few to examine the psychological characteristics of normative dissociation facilitated by music in “real world” settings.

Ethics and Morality
Music and Moral Judgement

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on December 6, 2012

Thinkers as different from one another as Confucius, Socrates, St. Augustine and al’Ghazzali have cautioned against the effects of music on the soul. Now researchers in Israel have found evidence that these moralists may have been on to something.

Thinkers as different from one another as Confucius, Socrates, St. Augustine and al’Ghazzali have cautioned against the effects of music on the soul. Now researchers in Israel have found evidence that these moralists may have been on to something.

Motivation
Musical Skill and Deliberate Practice

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on November 12, 2012

What sets those who are able to master a musical instrument even though they seem to spend little time practicing apart from those who spend a lot of time practicing and never achieve mastery?

What sets those who are able to master a musical instrument even though they seem to spend little time practicing apart from those who spend a lot of time practicing and never achieve mastery?

Cognition
Background Music and Cognition

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on September 30, 2012

Two scientists at the University of Auckland set out to investigate whether the brains of musicians process music in the same brain areas where language is processed. Along the way they also found some interesting results about the effects of background music on thought.

Two scientists at the University of Auckland set out to investigate whether the brains of musicians process music in the same brain areas where language is processed. Along the way they also found some interesting results about the effects of background music on thought.

Memory
Where Do “Earworms” Come From?

Jeanette Bicknell Ph.D. on February 1, 2012

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head and, no matter how hard you tried, you could not dislodge it? Variously called "earworms," "sticky songs" or "involuntary musical imagery," one study found that nearly 92% of people report having such an experience once a week or more frequently.

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head and, no matter how hard you tried, you could not dislodge it? Variously called "earworms," "sticky songs" or "involuntary musical imagery," one study found that nearly 92% of people report having such an experience once a week or more frequently.