Music exists in every culture and often overcomes language barriers. Yet, we all have our own individual reactions when we listen. It can be surprising to think that something so universal can also elicit such a personalized response, but it’s because each of our brains processes it differently. The guide below explores how our minds understand these vibrations and how it shapes our preferences.

How You Physically Process Music

Music is made up of eight structural elements, and it takes nearly every region of your brain to process all of them. Once the sound hits your eardrum, your brain begins a low-level and high-level processing interaction to understand what you’re hearing.

First, your cerebellum breaks down the initial stimulus, then your thalamus and hippocampus work together to cross-check what you’re hearing with any known signs of danger. Finally, the amygdala initiates an emotional reaction based off all of the data. 

Why You Have Musical Preferences

For the most part, the type of music you enjoy is set at an early age, with musical tastes realized between the ages of 13 and 16. The biggest influence on these predispositions is where you live—with studies showing that culture plays a vital role in what people gravitate toward.

Despite this, there are still drastic variations in preference within cultures, and this is because music has the ability to evoke emotional memory. When you are listening, broad neural networks engage in your mind, bringing forth past feelings, and these are what dictate your more intimate preferences.

 

If you love music, then visit the one-stop shop for music lovers—5J Music in Elko, NV. Whether you enjoy strumming a guitar, playing along to sheet music, or simply listening to some classic vinyl albums, they can set you up. Give them a call today at (775) 778-0484 with questions or browse their inventory online.