This Is Your Brain on Music：The Science of a Human Obsession

Afascinatingexplorationoftherelationshipbetweenmusicandthemind-andtheroleofmelodiesinshapingourlivesWhetheryouloadyouriPodwithBachorBono,musichasasignificantroleinyourlife-evenifyouneverrealizedit.Whydoesmusicevokesuchpowerfulmoods?Theanswersareatlastbecomingclear,thankstorevolutionaryneuroscienceandtheemergingfieldofevolutionarypsychology.Bothacutting-edgestudyandatributetothebeautyofmusicitself,ThisIsYourBrainonMusicunravelsahostofmysteriesthataffecteverythingfrompopculturetoourunderstandingofhumannature,including:*Areourmusicalpreferencesshapedinutero?*Isthereacutoffpointforacquiringnewtastesinmusic?*WhatdoPETscansandMRIsrevealaboutthebrain'sresponsetomusic?*Ismusicalpleasuredifferentfromotherkindsofpleasure?ThisIsYourBrainonMusicexploresculturesinwhichsingingisconsideredanessentialhumanfunction,patientswhohaveararedisorderthatpreventsthemfrommakingsenseofmusic,andscientistsstudyingwhytwopeoplemaynothavethesamedefinitionofpitch.Ateveryturn,thisprovocativeworkunlocksdeepsecretsabouthownatureandnurtureforgeauniquelyhumanobsession.