TRBQ: Why Does Music Move Us?

TRBQ: The Really Big Questions | Apr 24, 2014

Music is one of the most ubiquitous forces in the world, permeating every culture without explanation as to why we are so affected by its touch. There's a reason why humans create music and why it's so heavily embedded into our lives -- but that reason isn't too clear. In this episode of "The Really Big Questions," musicians and researchers attempt to explain the impact of music on the human brain.

Hear from a range of guests with wide expertise in the field:

 

  • Jazz guitarist Pat Martino who lost his memory after neurosurgery and retaught himself how to play
  • Neuroscience researcher Psyche Loui at Wesleyan University who studies chills and strong emotional responses to intense aesthetic experiences like music
  • Petr Janata from UC Davis who is interested in how we "groove" to music
  • Steven Pinker, linguist and evolutionary psychologist
  •  

     

    Be alert for scams. WNYC never asks for nor accepts money for coverage or interviews. Anyone making such a request does not represent WNYC.

    Top Stories

    NY Gov. Hochul once resisted a data center pause. Now it’s central to her campaign.

    Advice for Getting Intimate

    What to Make of Nathan Fielder's New Doc 'You Can See Everything'; Anthony Roth Costanzo Celebrates the Countertenor Vocal Range

    A Potential Change to the Way Amazon Hires 'Last Mile' Delivery Workers

    YOU ARE ONLINE