Gaby
When we hear an amazing, unpredictable musical composition, its chords resonate in our hearts. But if the melody is predictable, it tends to hit us in the gut.
According to a new study by researchers from the University of Tokyo and Hiroshima University, music elicits tangible physical responses within us.
What Scientists Discovered
The researchers aimed to uncover how musical themes and individual chords generate specific bodily sensations and emotions. The team involved 527 participants in the study. After listening to eight melodies, the volunteers were asked to indicate which parts of their bodies were affected by the music.
Each melody contained a sequence of chords with varying degrees of uncertainty and surprise. If participants heard an unexpected chord and the melody felt original and whimsical, it struck a chord in their hearts. Conversely, if the chord sequence was predictable, the music resonated more with their stomachs, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The sensations in the heart were closely linked to aesthetic appreciation and feelings of pleasure. As a result, the volunteers experienced a reduction in discomfort and anxiety. Meanwhile, the sensations in the stomach, triggered by predictable chord sequences, were associated with calmness, satisfaction, and nostalgia.
Professor and pianist Tatsuya Daikoku from the University of Tokyo commented on the findings: “Our research shows that certain chord sequences evoke similar bodily sensations in specific organs, particularly in the brain, heart, and abdominal cavity.”
He noted that music is not just something we hear with our ears; it’s a sensation that involves the entire body. This full-body experience is what truly defines music, said Professor Daikoku.
Since, according to the study, music is inextricably linked to our bodies, it could potentially be used for stress relief and improving mental health.
This is the belief of the study’s authors, whose findings were published in the journal iScience.
