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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
11:15
fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals
Published on: May 23, 2017
Structural and functional neural correlates of music perception
1National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. limbc@nidcd.nih.gov
Summary
Music serves as a powerful tool for understanding the human auditory brain. Functional neuroimaging reveals music
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Music processing shares neural pathways with language.
- Auditory brain structure and function are complex.
- Functional neuroimaging offers advanced investigation methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review functional neuroimaging studies on music.
- To highlight music's utility in studying auditory brain function.
- To explore the neural basis of music perception.
Main Methods:
- Review of functional neuroimaging studies.
- Analysis of music's role as an auditory stimulus.
- Examination of neural correlates of music processing.
Main Results:
- Music and language processing involve overlapping neural networks.
- Musical aptitude correlates with Heschl's gyrus activity and volume.
- Brain regions involved in emotion and hemispheric specialization are activated by music.
Conclusions:
- Functional neuroimaging combined with music provides unique insights into brain structure and function.
- Music perception engages language-related areas and emotional centers.
- Studies reveal hemispheric specialization in melody and rhythm perception.
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