Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 18/11/2016 15:57:13

Title: How is music able to give us the creeps so effectively?
Post by: thedoc on 18/11/2016 15:57:13

How is music able to give us the creeps so effectively?

Read the article (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/brain-invasion-why-music-can-frighten-us/) then tell us what you think...

Title: Re: How is music able to give us the creeps so effectively?
Post by: Colin2B on 14/02/2015 14:33:43

We are certainly attuned to certain frequencies, crack of twig, rustle of leaves - both clear alarm calls. Bird calls are in the same higher frequencies and we our brains may be programmed to be alert to them. Robins and wrens have similar alarm calls, blackbirds have separate calls for ground and flying predators.

Title: Re: How is music able to give us the creeps so effectively?
Post by: Arrual on 21/02/2015 16:14:17

Its the pitch and the speed of it. It also depends on what you are thinking at the moment. If you know what the music is about then that would also be a reason. Say the music gradually gets faster (Jaws) it makes it feel like a heart beat. when you are scared our heart rate goes up. due to the speed of the music your instincts tell you to feel scared and run, like your prey and you are supposed to run. Also animals bigger than us tend to kill us. Bigger the animal their tone gets deeper so deeper tone in music simulates a dangerous animal.

Title: Re: How is music able to give us the creeps so effectively?
Post by: cheryl j on 22/02/2015 15:17:51

And I'd think also that's its connected to the emotional aspects of language processing. We process content and emotional aspects of speech in different parts of the brain. Even if you don't know what some is saying in a different language you can usually tell if he's angry, amused, sad, pleased, surprised, confused, etc from the tone.