Absolute pitch, once thought to be an innate ability or only attainable through early childhood training, may be learnable in adulthood. Researchers trained 12 adult musicians in an eight-week online program, focusing on recognizing pitch class rather than specific pitch heights ..read more

A new study finds that the urge to move to music—known as groove—is a distinct physiological response, separate from musical enjoyment. Researchers examined individuals with musical anhedonia, who feel little or no pleasure from music, and found they still had a strong urge to move when listening to rhythmic beats. Participants rated how much pleasure they experienced and how much the music made them want to move, revealing that movement itself may generate pleasure for those with anhedonia ..read more

New research reveals that music can do more than trigger memories—it can alter their emotional tone. When participants recalled neutral stories while listening to emotionally charged music, they later remembered the stories as matching the music’s mood. Brain scans showed increased communication between emotion, memory, and sensory processing areas, suggesting music infuses new emotional details into memories. These findings hint at music’s potential for therapeutic interventions, like reframing negative memories in depression or PTSD ..read more

A new study challenges the notion of the musicians' "sophomore slump," finding it exists only in professional critics' reviews, not fan ratings. Critics tend to harshly critique bands’ second albums compared to their first and third, likely influenced by social conformity within their group ..read more

A new study reveals shared genetic underpinnings between musical rhythm abilities and language-related traits, including dyslexia. Using data from over 1 million individuals, researchers identified 16 overlapping genome regions tied to rhythm and language, with key roles in brain connectivity ..read more

A new study suggests that listening to music after surgery can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, and even heart rate, aiding recovery. An analysis of 35 studies found that patients who listened to music reported lower pain levels and used less morphine on the first day post-surgery compared to those who didn’t ..read more

Older adults are just as capable as younger individuals of remembering familiar music, but their brains must work harder in certain areas. While memory-related brain regions are less active in older people, sensory-related areas become more engaged, compensating for reduced memory function ..read more

Music-based movement therapy, the Ronnie Gardiner Method, shows promise in aiding rehabilitation for stroke and other brain disorders, according to a review from researchers. This rhythmic and engaging approach, which involves coordinated movements and sounds, has been well-received by participants for its enjoyable and social nature. While the method’s potential benefits for stroke recovery are documented, further studies are needed to validate its effectiveness in other conditions. The Ronnie Gardiner Method may become a valuable addition to traditional neurological rehabilitation ..read more

Researchers discovered that nearly 45% of people sing earworms in perfect pitch, suggesting a hidden "perfect pitch" ability in the general population. Even without formal musical training, participants accurately recalled the pitch of familiar songs, challenging common perceptions about musical abilities. This finding highlights the brain's remarkable capacity to store precise musical memories and suggests that many people may have untapped musical potential ..read more

Western classical music can significantly affect brain activity, particularly in people with treatment-resistant depression. By measuring brainwaves and neural imaging, scientists discovered that music synchronizes neural oscillations between brain regions associated with sensory and emotional processing, enhancing mood. This study suggests that personalized music therapy could be a powerful tool for treating depression, especially when integrated with other sensory stimuli ..read more