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

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

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

Musical emotions: functions, origins, evolution.

Leonid Perlovsky¹

¹Harvard University, Cambridge, and Air Force Research Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA, USA. leonid@seas.harvard.edu

Physics of Life Reviews

|April 9, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Emotion

Physiology of Emotion

The physiology of emotions is a multifaceted process involving the autonomic nervous system, brain structures, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This intricate interplay dictates how emotions manifest in the body and influence behavior.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role of...

Physiological Theories: James-Lange Theory of Emotion

Physiological Theories: James-Lange Theory of Emotion

The James-Lange theory of emotion, proposed by William James and Carl Lange in the late 19th century, asserts that emotions are the result of physiological reactions to external stimuli. Contrary to the traditional view, which suggests that emotions directly arise from the perception of stimuli, this theory proposes that emotions occur as a consequence of the body's responses to such stimuli. According to this framework, an emotional experience is a cognitive interpretation of physiological...

Physiological Theories: Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion

Physiological Theories: Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion

The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion, proposed by Walter Cannon and Philip Bard, challenges the notion that emotions are solely the result of physiological responses. Instead, this theory suggests that emotional experiences and physiological arousal occur simultaneously but operate through independent mechanisms. This dual response is initiated by the brain, specifically by the thalamus, which plays a critical role in processing sensory information.
Upon perceiving a stimulus, such as a dangerous...

Cognitive Theories: Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion

Cognitive Theories: Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion

Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer proposed the two-factor theory of emotion, which emphasizes the interplay between physiological arousal and cognitive labeling in forming emotional experiences. This theory suggests that emotions are not simply a result of physiological responses but rather a combination of these responses and the individual's cognitive interpretation of them.
Physiological Arousal and Cognitive Labeling
According to this theory, when an individual experiences physiological...

Role of Emotions in Social Life

Role of Emotions in Social Life

Emotions play a fundamental role in shaping human experience and interactions. The absence of emotions would render life incomplete and fail to capture the essence of human nature. In social psychology, feelings and moods have been extensively studied due to their profound impact on social life and interpersonal relationships. These affective states influence decision-making, behavior, and social perceptions, making them integral to understanding human interactions.Emotions and Social...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Editorial: The Evolution of Music.

Frontiers in psychology·2020

Same author

Unconscious emotions of human learning.

Physics of life reviews·2019

Same author

Reductionism - simplified and scientific.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2019

Same author

Editorial: Representation in the Brain.

Frontiers in psychology·2018

Same author

Syntax meets semantics during brain logical computations.

Progress in biophysics and molecular biology·2018

Same author

Music and cognitive dissonance: Comment on "An integrative review of the enjoyment of sadness associated with music" by Tuomas Eerola et al.

Physics of life reviews·2018

Same journal

The dual role of the microbiome in sepsis: A complex interplay between pathogenicity and protection.

Physics of life reviews·2026

Same journal

AI-driven cellular immunotherapy: transforming CAR-T engineering and translation.

Physics of life reviews·2026

Same journal

Looking in the right place: Strategy-based vs. capacity-based cognitive enhancement. Reply to comments on "To enhance or not to enhance".

Physics of life reviews·2026

Same journal

Decoding nucleic acid modification regulatory networks: A key to cancer intervention and treatment.

Physics of life reviews·2026

Same journal

Irregular curvature at focal adhesions modulates Piezo1 activity and low-frequency ultrasound-induced apoptosis in cancer cells.

Physics of life reviews·2026

Same journal

Interoceptive machine framework: Toward interoception-inspired regulatory architectures in artificial intelligence.

Physics of life reviews·2026

See all related articles

Music

Area of Science:

Cognitive Science
Evolutionary Psychology
Neuroscience

Background:

Existing theories on music origins and emotions are contradictory and lack explanatory power for the mind's mechanisms or evolutionary basis.
Music's role in the mind, consciousness, and culture remains an enigma.
A synthesis of cognitive science and mathematical models offers a new perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

To review existing theories of music origins and emotions.
To propose a unifying hypothesis for music's role in cognition and evolution.
To explore the evolutionary split of vocalizations into language and music.

Main Methods:

Review of ancient and contemporary theories on music origins and emotions.
Synthesis of cognitive science and mathematical models of the mind.

More Related Videos

Driving Under the Influence: How Music Listening Affects Driving Behaviors

Driving Under the Influence: How Music Listening Affects Driving Behaviors

Published on: March 27, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

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

Driving Under the Influence: How Music Listening Affects Driving Behaviors

Driving Under the Influence: How Music Listening Affects Driving Behaviors

Published on: March 27, 2019

Hypothetical model of vocalization split and parallel evolution of music, language, and culture.

Main Results:

Proposes a hypothesis where music evolved from vocalizations preserving emotional connections, distinct from language.
Suggests music's evolution was necessary to compensate for language's emancipation from emotion.
Highlights music's fundamental role in refined emotionality crucial for cultural evolution.

Conclusions:

Music plays a fundamental role in the evolution of the mind, consciousness, and culture.
The proposed hypothesis offers a framework for understanding music's necessity in human societies.
Experimental verification in psychology and neuroimaging is suggested for the proposed theory.