Feature
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Birth of the beat
Music’s roots may lie in melodic exchanges between mothers and babies.
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Seeking a definition
Pitch is determined by a sound’s frequency. Notes that sit in different positions on a musical scale, called tones, have different pitches. Modern Western music, for example, combines 12 tones, with the A at the middle of a piano keyboard having a frequency of 440 hertz. Other cultures work with fewer tones. The first few […]
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Not just a pleasant sound
When people use music to share stories, comfort peers or worship gods, it takes on new meaning. Music’s roles vary depending on time and place. Bonding: Battle hymns, national anthems and alma maters unite people for a common cause and make them feel that they are a part of something larger. Marching bands (shown), for […]
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More than a feeling
Emotionally evocative, yes, but music goes much deeper.
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Moody tunes
To explore the effect that music has on the mind, Science News asked researchers to share a song they enjoy and the emotion it evokes. Ethan Ross, physicianSong: “Dark Star” by the Grateful Dead Emotion: “Elation, euphoria and wonder.” Virginia Naples, vertebrate paleontologist Song: “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot Emotion: “Sadness […]
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Your brain on music
Music lights up almost every area of the brain, which shouldn’t be a surprise since it makes people tap their feet, encourages the recollection of vivid memories and has the potential to lighten the mood. Around the outside 1. Prefrontal cortex: This brain region plays a role in the creation, satisfaction and violation of expectations. […]
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Songs from the Stone Age
No one knows for sure whether music played a key role in human evolution or came about as a kind of ear candy. But there are several scientifically inspired proposals for the origins of music, some included below. Da ya think I’m sexy? Charles Darwin, an avid music fan, suggested in 1871 that humans’ tunes […]
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Evidence of ancient roots
Though early hominids may have made sweet sounds by banging sticks and stones together, the oldest distinguishable instrument dates to 40,000 years ago. A flute made from vulture bone (shown) and others made from mammoth ivory have been found in Hohle Fels cave near Ulm, Germany, and date from 35,000 to 40,000 years ago. Holes […]
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Music of the hemispheres
Playing instruments gives brains a boost.
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Take two stanzas and call me in the morning
From poets to politicians, people have long described music as medicine for the heart and soul. Now scientists are taking a literal look at such musings, investigating music as a means to alleviate pain and enhance recovery. Though some studies are still in the early stages, your favorite soundtrack may one day accompany a prescription. […]
