When Your Favorite Song Plays, Your Brain ‘Physically Embodies’ Music

An Anonymous Coward writes:

Research out of the University of Connecticut proposes neural resonance theory, which says neurons in our body physically synchronize with music that create stable patterns that affect our entire body.

In a nutshell
Brain-music synchronization: Your brain doesn't just predict music patterns-it physically synchronizes with them through neural oscillations that affect your entire body.
Stability creates preference: Musical sounds with simple frequency relationships (like perfect fifths) create more stable neural patterns, explaining why certain combinations sound pleasant across cultures.
Cultural attunement: While some aspects of music perception are universal, your brain becomes "attuned" to the music you frequently hear, explaining cultural preferences while maintaining recognition of basic musical structures.

What is Neural Resonance Theory?

Neural Resonance Theory (NRT) is a scientific approach that explains how your brain processes music using fundamental physics principles rather than abstract predictions.

In simpler terms, NRT suggests that:

Your brain contains billions of neurons that naturally oscillate (rhythmically fire) at different frequencies
When you hear music, these neural oscillations physically synchronize with the sound waves
This synchronization creates stable patterns in your brain that correspond to musical elements
The more stable these patterns are, the more pleasant or "right" the music feels

Unlike traditional theories that say your brain is constantly making predictions about what comes next in music, NRT proposes that your brain actually embodies the music's structure through its own physical patterns.

This physical synchronization explains why music can directly affect your movements and emotions without conscious thought-your brain and body are literally vibrating in harmony with the music.

Read the rest of the article: https://studyfinds.org/brain-cells-synchronize-to-music/

Journal Reference: Harding, E.E., Kim, J.C., Demos, A.P. et al. Musical neurodynamics. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 26, 293-307 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-025-00915-4

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