Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by identifying...

Hearing

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.

Parallel Processing

Parallel Processing

The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...

Auditory Pathway

Auditory Pathway

Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...

Auditory Perception

Auditory Perception

The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the cochlea, a...

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Replacing Fertilizer with Dried Distillers' Grains in Stocker Cattle Systems on Southern Great Plains Old World Bluestem, USA.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2023

Same author

"The Dichotic Digit Test" as an Index Indicator for Hearing Problem in Dementia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology·2020

Same author

A standardized immune phenotyping and automated data analysis platform for multicenter biomarker studies.

JCI insight·2018

Same author

Preparatory planning framework for Created Out of Mind: Shaping perceptions of dementia through art and science.

Wellcome open research·2018

Same author

Long-term use benefits of personal frequency-modulated systems for speech in noise perception in patients with stroke with auditory processing deficits: a non-randomised controlled trial study.

BMJ open·2017

Same author

A longitudinal investigation of the relationship between crowding and reading: A neurodegenerative approach.

Neuropsychologia·2016

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

How does the brain process music?

¹National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London. jwarren@drc.ion.ucl.ac.uk

Clinical Medicine (London, England)

|March 14, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The musical brain involves widespread neural networks, not just one area. Advanced neuroscience tools reveal music engages distributed brain modules for processing various components.

More Related Videos

fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals

fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals

Published on: May 23, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping

Published on: August 12, 2019

fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals

fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals

Published on: May 23, 2017

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Music Psychology

Background:

The neural basis of music processing is a key area in contemporary neuroscience.
Advancements in neuroimaging techniques facilitate detailed examination of brain anatomy and function.
Music offers unique insights into nonverbal brain functions.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the complex organization of the musical brain.
To move beyond localized theories of music processing.
To understand music's role as a 'whole-brain' phenomenon.

Main Methods:

Utilizing sophisticated neuroimaging techniques.
Examining brain anatomy and function in various states.
Analyzing the distributed network engagement during music processing.

Main Results:

Music processing is not confined to a single brain area or hemisphere.
Music engages a distributed set of cortical modules.
These modules process perceptual, cognitive, and emotional components selectively.

Conclusions:

The musical brain operates as a complex, integrated system.
Music engages widespread neural networks across the brain.
Future research should focus on the 'why' of music processing in the brain.