Theory of Mind
Neuronugget #5
Music and our ability to understand others’ thoughts and feelings are interconnected.
Here’s how:
Social Bonds: Music activates various brain areas, including those related to theory of mind and empathy. When we listen to music, we engage the circuitry that helps us understand what others might be thinking or feeling, enhancing our social connections.
Emotional Processing: People who respond emotionally to music have stronger white matter connectivity between their auditory cortex and emotion-processing areas. This efficient communication contributes to our emotional experiences with music.
Physiological Effects: Rhythm in music has a powerful unconscious effect on our bodies. It influences our emotions, synchronises brain activity, and even affects our physical responses.
Music engages our minds, emotions, and social cognition, making it a powerful force in our lives.
Research has shown that empathy is positively linked to preferences for sad and tender music (such as R&B/soul, adult contemporary, and soft rock genres) and negatively correlated with preferences for intense music (such as punk, heavy metal, and hard rock genres) . So, if you’re looking to enhance empathy, consider exploring those genres!
Levels of the hormone oxytocin (in the bloodstream) are raised when people are signing together. Oxytocin is associated with empathy, trust and relationship building. Our sensitivity to pain and stress hormone cortisol decrease when we are involved in group music making activity.