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"Six Song" Theory

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Daniel Levitin, a musician and former producer who runs the Laboratory for Musical Perception, Cognition and Expertise at McGill University in Montreal, made a splash with his provocative book "This Is Your Brain on Music." His latest book delves even further into the relationship between music and the mind. "The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Nature" showcases his theory of "six songs," illuminating how the brain evolved to play and listen to music in six fundamental forms — for friendship, joy, comfort, knowledge, religion and love.

Our blog: John Schaefer on six types of songs

Daniel Levitin online


Comments

  • [1] MD August 19, 2008 - 02:48PM

    very interesting show. Do you have any ideas about a traumatic brain injury causing a long standing inability to enjoy music? Interested in your comments on prolactin. I have neuroendocrine probems due to the TBI including a low prolactin. I wonder if prolactin would help the music feel comforting rather than jarring and disruptive. Any other ideas?


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