By Adriel Pereira da Silva
The relationship between music and emotion is complex and reveals the special power that music has to touch people. When we hear a melody that connects with our experiences, we can feel deep emotions such as joy, sadness, melancholy, reflection or euphoria. From a neurological and psychological point of view, there are reasons for this to happen.
Neurological Perspective
Brain Activation: Music can activate different areas of the brain. Classical music, for example, can stimulate the area associated with pleasure, the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and reward, releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. The release of dopamine during listening to music, especially classical music, can induce states of relaxation and happiness 1 .
Emotional Processing: Music is processed in regions of the brain linked to emotion, such as the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. The harmonic complexity of some music, such as classical music, often evokes deep emotions, generating an intense emotional response in those who appreciate it.
Memory and Associations: Specific sounds and familiar music can evoke past memories and associations, activating autobiographical memory and linking emotions to previous experiences 3 , however, unfamiliar music can also trigger this activation.
Psychological Perspective
Identity and Connection: Music often becomes part of a person’s identity and reflects their life experiences. This makes the experience of listening to a symphony or a piano piece unique and profound .
Culture and Context: Cultural and social context influences the perception of music. What may be moving to one person may not have the same effect on another, depending on cultural and social experiences. Classical music, for example, may resonate more in cultures with a strong tradition of this genre 5 .
Relaxation and Stress Relief: Music promotes relaxation and stress reduction, helping people feel calmer and in this context, it can be an effective therapeutic tool, contributing to a person’s emotional well-being 6 .
Music, especially genres such as symphony and classical piano, which is widely used in classical music, affects people in different ways due to neurological and psychological factors such as emotional processing, dopamine release, and memory associations. This musical experience is deeply subjective and intertwined with each person’s personal, cultural, and social experiences, showing that music is an essential part of human life. Although music promotes positive emotional processing, some people will not experience the same level of emotional enhancement, thus emphasizing the personal nature of the musical experience and the emotional impacts it provokes.
1 – Salimpoor, VN, et al. (2011). Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experiencing of peak emotion to music. Nature Neuroscience, 14(2), 257-262.
2 – Blood, AJ, & Zatorre, RJ (2001). Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98(20), 11818-11823.
3 – Janata, P. (2009). The neural architecture of musical memory. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 33(2), 265-273.
4 – Hanna-Pladdy, B., et al. (2011). The effects of musical training on communication and social interaction. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 35(3), 542-554.
5- North, AC, & Hargreaves, DJ (2008). The social and applied psychology of music. Academic Press.
6 – Thoma, MV, et al. (2013). The impact of a musical intervention on psychological stress and the quality of life of patients with a chronic illness. Journal of Music Therapy, 50(3), 329-347.
