1.The Neurobiology of music on emotions Shenaaz Pahad

2. Listening to music is a common 'everyday experience that can transport one back through time when you hear your favourite and least favourite songs it evokes or stimulates different emotions in us. Music is often referred to as the language of emotions. However, music engages many other brain functions as well: o Memory o Learning and plasticity o Attention o Motor control o Pattern perception o Imagery 3. Music has often been classified as a right-brained activity meaning that music processing is focused in the right hemisphere of the brain. However, this oversimplifies the neurobiology of music on the brain. There isnt a single music centre of the brain because listening to music combines a variety of distinct neurological processes. Different aspects of music are processed in distinct, although partly overlapping, neuronal networks in both cerebral hemispheres (1) 4. As you listen to music, what exactly is happening in your brain. For the purposes of this project, I will focus on the neurobiology of music on emotions. 5. Perceptual processing of music As you listening to music, sound waves are being collected mainly by the outer ear. The transduction of this sound into a neural signal occurs in the cochlea. The auditory nerve thus carries the signal to the brainstem and synapses in the cochlea nucleas. From the cochlea nucleas, the pathway continues through the auditory thalamus continuing up the neuronal projections to the auditory cortex. 6. The whole auditory cortex carries out perceptual analysis of music extracting more specific information about its acoustic features such as pitch, rhythm, timbre, intensity and tonality. 7. Emotional processing of music Music is not only evaluated on a perceptual level but also on an emotional level Listening to music can activate several areas of the limbic system and para-limbic structures From the cochlear nucleus, functional auditory projections can also be routed from the auditory thalamus to the amygdala, hypothalamus , basal forebrain, cingulate gyrus and medial orbifrontal cortex; regions associated with emotional behaviours (2). 8. Pleasant v. unpleasant music Music carries a tremendous ability to evoke emotional responses Research has shown that brain activity is predominantly in the frontal lobes when listening to pleasant music and the temporal lobe when listening to to unpleasant music (3,4). Pleasant music was also shown to stimulate reward centres of the brain causing the production of neurotransmitter dopamine. 9. Side-effects to listening to music Activation of the visual cortex as it can conjure up imagery to match the changes and progression in the music Activation of the hippocampus as music can serve as powerful triggers for memories In songs with lyrics there is activation of Brocas and Wernickes areas which are crucial for language production and comprehension 10. Auditory Cortex: (mainly part of the temporal lobe) analyses the information from the music such as the volume, pitch speed, melody and rhythm Cerebrum: (largest part of the brain, consists of frontal gyrus and located at the top front of the head) Inferior frontal gyrus is associated with recalling memories to remember music lyrics and sounds. Dorsolateral frontal cortex is stimulated when hearing music to keep a song in working memory and conjure up images that are associated with the sounds. Cerebellum: Vital control centre for reflex actions, balance, rhythm, and coordination when moving in response to the music. Limbic System:(interlinking parts deep in brain) Reacts emotionally to music giving the listener chills, joy, sadness, pleasure and other feelings. 11. How has this course has allowed me to better analyze the events and phenomena around me? 12. As a psychologist working in public health, this course has allowed me to see my patients completely" holistically. By providing me with the theoretical understanding of the brain: its neuroanatomy, neural communication and neural systems I am now capable of interpreting patients difficulty with everyday activities. By applying theory to real- life cases, Professor Maison has given me a new perspective to looking at everyday life difficulties. 13. Professor Maisons effortless ability to explain complex neurological interactions has provided me with the confidence to explain symptoms or behaviour from a neurological approach. However, if ever I feel uncertain I am able to refer back to my notes of the video lectures on Understanding the brain: Neurobiology of everyday life. Throughout the course, Professor Maison provided prevention tips which has influenced my treatment suggestions as well as improved my recommendations to parents/caregivers for improved care of their children. 14. Importantly, this course has intensified my passion of the brain and its inner workings so I look forward to further exploration and more courses like this one. 15. References 1. Boso M, Politi P, Barale F, Emanuele E. (2006). Neurophysiology and neurobiology of the musical experience. Functional Neurology, 21(4): 187-191 2. Koelsch S, Siebel WA. (2005). Towards a neural basis of music perception. Trends Cognition, 9: 578-584 3. Koelsch S, Fritz T Cramon DY, Muller K, Friederici AD. (2006). Investigating emotion with music: an fMRI study. Human Brain Mapping, 27: 239-250 4. Phelps EA, LeDoux JE. (2005). Contributions of the amygdala to emotion processing. Neuron, 48: 175-187