Dr. Susan Rogers, award-winning music producer turned cognitive neuroscientist at Berklee College of Music, discusses the relationship between our musical tastes and our own psychology. The podcast explores the complexity of music, the power of imperfection in performances, the importance of authenticity in science communication and psychotherapy, and the speaker's journey from the music industry to academia.
The relationship between our musical tastes and our own psychology is explored by Dr. Susan Rogers in her book 'This is What It Sounds Like, What the Music You Love Says About You.'
Music serves different functions for individuals and reveals aspects of their listener profile, including rhythm, lyrics, and novelty, as highlighted by Dr. Susan Rogers.
Understanding the functionality of music and its impact on our psyche can enhance our appreciation for the music we love, according to Dr. Susan Rogers.
Deep dives
The Music You Love Reveals Your Listener Profile
Dr. Susan Rogers, a cognitive neuroscientist and former record producer, discusses her new book 'This is What It Sounds Like, What the Music You Love Says About You.' She explores how music serves different functions for individuals and how it reveals aspects of their listener profile. The book delves into seven dimensions of music listening, including rhythm, lyrics, and novelty. Dr. Rogers highlights the importance of understanding one's own listener profile to better appreciate the music that resonates with them.
The Role of Music in our Lives
Dr. Susan Rogers explains that music serves various functions in our lives, such as keeping us company, solving social problems, or evoking specific emotions. She emphasizes the individuality of music preferences and the complex reasons why people are drawn to certain songs or genres. Understanding the functionality of music can help us appreciate its impact on our psyche and how it enhances different activities and moods.
The Intricacies of Music Perception and Cognition
Dr. Susan Rogers discusses her research in psychoacoustics and music cognition, focusing on how the brain processes and perceives music. She explores topics such as auditory short-term memory, the origins of consonance and dissonance, and the visualizations that individuals experience when listening to their favorite music. She also highlights the growing interest in music perception and cognition among music conservatories and the popular demand for courses on these subjects.
The Power of Music in Activating the Brain
Music has a significant impact on the brain, with different elements of music engaging various regions and triggering the release of dopamine. The four dimensions that activate the brain and provide a sense of reward are melody, lyrics, rhythm, and timbre. These dimensions apply to all forms of art, including painting, sculpture, dance, movies, and television. In addition, three aesthetic dimensions, namely novel versus familiar, realism versus abstraction, and authenticity, contribute to our preferences in art. Our musical tastes are unique and personal, and we should embrace and be proud of our individual preferences.
The Intimacy and Neuroscience of Musical Preferences
Musical preferences are deeply personal and can activate the default network in the brain, which is associated with self-awareness and self-identity. Listening to music we love helps us tap into our private selves and sparks a sense of recognition and familiarity. Our musical preferences can be different from others, and that's perfectly fine. It's important to embrace our own tastes and not feel the need to conform to societal or cultural expectations. Understanding the connection between our musical preferences and the activation of our default network can enhance our appreciation for the music we love.
In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Dr. Susan Rogers, author of "This Is What it Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You." They talk about her illustrious career as an award-winning music producer turned cognitive neuroscientist at Berklee College of Music. They also discuss the relationship between our musical tastes and our own psychology.
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