A recent study published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience suggests that our brains not only understand music but also physically resonate with it. Co-authored by McGill psychologist Caroline Palmer, the research supports Neural Resonance Theory (NRT), which proposes that musical experiences arise from the brain’s natural oscillations that sync with rhythm, melody, and harmony.
According to NRT, this resonance shapes our sense of timing, musical pleasure, and the instinct to move with the beat. The theory suggests that structures like pulse and harmony reflect stable resonant patterns in the brain, shared across people independent of their musical background.
The study’s findings have significant implications for various fields, including therapy, education, and technology. Potential applications include:
– Therapeutic tools for conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s, and depression
– Emotionally intelligent AI that can respond to or generate music more like humans
– New learning technologies to support rhythm and pitch education
– Cross-cultural insight into why music connects people around the world
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-brain-rhythms-synchronize-music-emotional.html