Music and the Brain

Music is an integral part of humanity. Every culture has music, from the largest society to the smallest tribe. Its marvelous range of melodies, themes, and rhythms taps into something universal. Babies are soothed by it. Young adults dance for hours to it. Older adults can relive their youth with the vivid memories it evokes. Music is part of our most important rituals, and it has been the medium of some of our greatest works of art.Yet even though music is intimately woven into the fabric of our lives, it remains deeply puzzling, provoking questions such as:How and why did musical behavior originate?What gives mere tones such a powerful effect on our emotions?Are we born with our sense of music, or do we acquire it?In the last 20 years, researchers have come closer to solving these riddles thanks to cognitive neuroscience, which integrates the study of human mental processes with the study of the brain. This exciting field has not only helped us address age-old questions about music; it also allows us to ask new ones, like:Do the brains of musicians differ from non-musicians?Can musical training promote cognitive development?Is there a deep connection between music and language?In Music and the Brain, neuroscientist and Professor of Psychology Aniruddh Patel of Tufts University probes one of the mind's most profound mysteries. Covering the latest research findings—from the origins of music's emotional powers to the deficits involved in amusia, or the inability to hear music—these 18 enthralling half-hour lectures will make you think about music and your brain in a new way.Designed for music lovers and brain enthusiasts at all levels, Music and the Brain is truly interdisciplinary and assumes no prior background. Here is your unrivaled explanation of this marvelous gift.