#122 - New Research Shows Music Bonds Us Together

Those of us who have played in bands or orchestras, in duos or quartets always knew that there becomes a 'hive mind' and unspoken bonding whether you're performing a concert or even a rehearsal. Now, at the University of the Pacific, they have research available the helps prove the point.

The recent pandemic kept us isolated and it became very obvious to those of us who shared our music daily with others that something was missing. I would take the studies one step farther and proposed that sharing music in a studio bonds people even more.  I also believe this concept stretches to concerts and listening with others in your home.  

When people really listen to music together as a shared experience, something happens... there is a sense of community...  a bond...  and as researchers are finding out, it could be as strong as the bond of a child to it's mother.  

Those of us who play music together in the studio with others have always known this happens.  It's gratifying to know someone is doing the research behind it.

Here are some excerpts from the article and the links below.

Enjoy your week and share your music with a friend!

Cookie Marenco

Research conducted by audiologists at University of the Pacific is unlocking how the brain interacts, helping to understand the science behind everything from how people learn to the bond between mothers and babies.  

The study, recently published in Brain Sciences, examined people’s brainwaves after playing music together. Previous studies have shown brains can synchronize while playing music; Pacific’s research looked at what happens when the music stops.

“What we found is that the two brains continue to be synchronized after they have stopped playing music, so we're on the same wavelength, literally,” said Gabriella Musacchia, chair of Pacific’s audiology department. “That has a host of implications.”

The phase of brainwaves can determine how receptive someone is to a particular sound.

“Music is said to promote social bonding and social awareness. In fact, music is used for many different disorders as a pathway to nonverbal social bonding and relationship building,” said Musacchia.

Read More by clicking this link....
https://www.pacific.edu/pacific-newsroom/pacific-researchers-unlock-how-music-connects-listeners