Why do human beings enjoy music? How does evolution explain man's love for music?

Question

Is it just to entertain us or does music serve a higher purpose?

Answer 1

There are many theories. For example the human ability to speak requires an evolved understanding of 'prosody' or the sound patterns of speech. We are adept at noticing the small sound differences and the rhythm and beat in natural speech. Think of different languages that you might hear in an airport, some have a fast lyrical pace others seem to swing up and down. All languages differ slightly in their pace and rhythm. Now as we are naturally sensitive to beat, rhythm and changes in pitch, music might well tap into this by simulating the same things we hear in everyday speech but without actual semantic content. Therefore you could argue that the reason we like music is the same reason we like speech, we are innately attracted to anything with a repetitive beat/pattern of sound.



Just one idea from the top of my head, if you look online such as google scholar you will probably find far more persuasive arguments!

Answer 2

Evolution doesn't have to explain that, any more than gravity does.



But, my suspicion is that liking music is a side-effect of humans' propensity for communication.

One major feature of humans is that we communicate a lot: we have evolved language as an extremely subtle and sophisticated tool for doing so (which has led to the over-development of various portions of our brain responsible for this).

Music, like language, is based off sound and requires pattern-recognition to perceive structure within it. While music does not convey direct meaning in the same way that language does, it does have a meaning or emotional value in itself. It is our brains' efforts to decipher and make sense of this apparent meaning that makes music appeal to us.

Answer 3

There was a study done a few years ago about plants actually growing at faster rates when different styles of music are played as they grow. Pretty interesting stuff! Google it!

Answer 4

Its soothing,easy to concentrate,helps u to think positive.

By the way what kind of music/songs u like?

Must answer.

Answer 5

Soothing to the brain/Its a medicine when u are lonely. It gives u strength while u are depressed.

Above all its your best friend.

I hve few songs to suggest if u allow?

Pl

Answer 6

i wonder this somtimes

why should we listen to other people talk

but music helps us to release emotionally

it can even help us to deal with life

it all depends on how your life is at the moment

Answer 7

YES SURE, BECAUSE, INSIDE OUR EAR, THERES SOME COMPLICATED PARTS,SIMPLY AS EAR DRUM, AND A SPECIAL DEVICE COCHLEA....WHEN WE HEAR A SOUND BRAIN TRIES TO IDENTIFY IT AS ANY PRE KNOWN ONE...BECAUSE ITS VERY ESSENTIAL TO RULE LIKE THAT,TO PROTECT US FROM ONCOMING DANGERS....SO OUR BRAIN RECORDS EACH AND EVERY VOICE WHILE WE GROW FROM CHILD HOOD.....BRAIN DISTINGUISH ALL FROM EACH OTHER, AND STORES....IT CAN SIMPLY RECALL ABOUT ITS NATURE FROM CODED REGISTRY IN OUR BRAIN ALL BY CHEMICAL REACTIONS....FOR AN EG: WHENEVER YOU HEARS A THUNDER NOISE YOUR BRAIN TELL YOU TO TAKE CARE BECAUSE IT HAS A PRE RECORDED NOTE ABOUT THAT NOISE AS DANGEROUS.....SO EACH AND EVERY NOISE IS CALCULATED AND DETERMINED BY BRAIN....SO IN TO THE MUSIC....A MUSIC IS A PARTICULAR AUDIO FREQUENCY,COMPOSED AS SOME STEPS AS PROGRESSIONS OF SOME CALCULATED FREQUENCY,IN A PITCH OF INCREASING AND DECREASING MANNER....WHEN A MUSIC NOTE HITS OUR EARDRUM, IT GENERATES A RESONATION AROUND INNER EAR,AROUND THE MALIUS,INCUS,STAPIS BONES, AND IT ALSO STIMULATES COCHLEA,BY STIMULATING OTOLITHS INSIDE THE COCHLEA....SO COCHLEA SENDS A SENSATIONAL SIGNAL TO BRAIN, IN WITH THE SAME RESSONATION THAT PRODUCED BY EAR DRUM....THEN BRAIN COMPUTES THE VARIATION ABOUT THIS AND SEND A WHOLE SIGNALS ALL OVER YOUR BODY IN A PARTICULAR MANNER....SO YOUR BRAIN TELLS YOU ABOUT THE MUSIC...ITS GOOD OR BAD TO YOU....THEN AS BRAIN COPES WITH THIS NATURALLY PROGRESSIVE NOISE,IT CAN RELEASE SOME CHEMICALS IN BLOODSTREAM, ALL I CANT MENTION HERE AS IT IS TOO VAST TO EXPLAIN....SUCH CHEMICALS ARE HELP FULL TO ELEVATE OUR MOODS, AS BRAIN STEM IS ENERGISED...SOME OF THEM ARE ALSO HELP FULL TO PREVENT EVEN CANCER AND ARTHRITIS....WE LOVE THE NOISE...THE MUSIC BECAUSE OF ITS COMPOSITION....ITS VARYING IN AMPLITUDE AND PITCH IN PROGRESSIVE MANNER....SO OUR BRAIN CAN HOLD IT AND DISTINGUISH AS A SAFETY NOISE, AS WE FEEL...BUT WHEN IT GOES UP TO A HIGH LEVEL WE FEEL AGAIN AS A DANGER AND DISCOMFORT....SO SOME PARTICULARLY COMPOSED MUSICS CAN REJUVENATE YOU....FROM AN ILL.....SURE....

Answer 8

because music make man tension free

Answer 9

our brains are stimulated by the energy.